Six Little Ships

Early in WW2 the British Expeditionary Force and its allies were evacuated from Dunkirk (Dunkerque) when cut off by German forces. An armada of civilian and naval boats with RAF fighter cover enabled 198,000 British and 140,000 French and Belgian troops to be rescued from the beaches. Six boats from Leigh-on-Sea set sail on 31st May 1940 to join that armada (Renown, Reliant, Endeavour, Letitia, Resolute and Defender). Five returned home after the rescue – but the Renown struck a mine and was lost with its 4 crew.