A new short film tells the story of Poole’s vital role in the miracle of the Dunkirk evacuation 85 years ago.
The 30-minute documentary has been commissioned by the Poole Maritime Trust to mark the major anniversary.
The community of Poole played a key role in Operation Dynamo between May 26 and June 4 1940, but this part of the town’s history is often overlooked, locally and nationally.
In the operation, 338,000 British, French and Belgian soldiers were evacuated from northern France as German forces advanced through Europe following the outbreak of war in September 1939.
The film, being launched on April 10 is part of a month-long community exhibition at Lighthouse Poole, curated by Poole Maritime Trust with the support of several local organisations.
The exhibition – Poole At Dunkirk 1940 – runs from Wednesday 30 April to Tuesday 27 May.
The film, which will also be shared across the Poole community, heritage organisations and schools, includes:
· The story of the flotilla of ‘little ships’ – fishing boats, pleasure craft, ferries, private yachts and Poole’s historic lifeboat the Thomas Kirk Wright – that set out for Dover and, in some cases, on to Dunkirk.
· The brave ‘fighting retreat’ of the 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment, back to Dunkirk under the command of hero Colonel Eric ‘Steve’ Stevenson as part of the ill-fated British Expeditionary Force.
· The arrival of small Dutch and Belgian ships in Poole Harbour in the run-up to Dunkirk, bringing with them some 3,000 refugees fleeing the Nazis.
· The significant role these boats, or ‘skoots, went on to play at Dunkirk.
· The role of Brownsea Island in looking after the refugees.
· The story of the Poole pleasure boat Ferry Nymph which is still working to this day.
Interviewees include Royal Navy veteran and Poole Maritime Trust trustee Michael ‘Jack’ Hawkins BEM, Dorset Regiment historian Christopher Jary, and contributions from the RNLI, Brownsea Island, the daughter of a Poole fisherman who gave up his boat to the Dunkirk effort and the owner of Ferry Nymph.
Mr Hawkins said: “Poole and the people of Poole played a significant role in the evacuation of France beginning on 26 May 1940 and in particular the Miracle of Dunkirk.
“Poole can be very proud of what it did. The Dunkirk Spirit was really fostered here.”
He added: “We delighted to have been able to commission this film. It is a powerful historical record of this momentous event and let’s not forget that without Dunkirk there would have been no D Day.”
The film has been funded by the Poole Maritime Trust with support from Poole BID, Society of Poole and Rawlins Davy Reeves Solicitors, Poole.
It was filmed and edited by Corin Messer and narrated and produced by Andy Martin.
The video link is : https://youtu.be/V192vYKuhDs
For more information, please contact
Jack Hawkins on 07904 605854
info@poolemaritimetrust.org
Andy Martin on 07809 419138
Andypmartin911@aol.com