Madhouse Diaries : War and Peace (Operation Dynamo 2015)

As I told you on Friday, the Little Ships have come back to Dunkirk for the 70th commemoration of Operation Dynamo and the Evacuation of Dunkirk during World War II.

As part of the celebrations, there was a parade of vintage military vehicles through the town centre yesterday.

Opening the parade was Arthur Taylor, one of seven Dunkirk veterans, all in their nineties, who have made it back to Dunkirk to mark the occasion. He got the biggest round of applause as he walked proudly past, waving to the crowds, which was very poignant and heartwarming. 

It must have been very strange for anyone who was in Dunkirk during the war to see the British, French and Belgian vehicles, along with people in WWII military uniforms, rolling back into town. Dunkirk was the last French town to be liberated at the end of the war, the day after VE Day in fact, on 9th May 1945.

As the years pass by and there are fewer and fewer Dunkirk veterans still alive to invite back, there is always a question mark hanging over the Operation Dynamo commemorations. It looks like there are still plenty of enthusiasts willing to take part in the event though. 

As well as the British and French military vehicles, there were also some vintage cars.

And some military marching bands.

Pierre asked why these ones kept sticking their drumsticks up their noses !

At the end of the parade, they all parked in the town square.

We got up close and had a good look at the insides, often complete with WWII memorabilia (or reconstitutions).

 It was great to see the camaraderie between all the participants.

 The poppy wreaths on the fronts of some of the vehicles were a poignant reminder of what we are commemorating though.