The Dunkirk spirit, which saw boats from the Thames join the flotilla of “little ships” that helped rescue 300,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk 70 years ago, will be marked when the Duke of Kent unveils a memorial to those who sailed through Teddington Lock.
The statue, made of India black granite, was designed by one of Kingston’s former Olympic rowers, Dick Knight, and partly funded by the Environment Agency.
Mr Knight said: “As a 10 year old my father took me there and I remember seeing all the boats there. Having seen it at 10, seeing it 70 years later is great.”
The Douglas Tough boatyard at the lock gathered 100 boats from the Thames, after the ministry of shipping asked for small craft that could operate in the shallow waters off Dunkirk as part of Operation Dynamo.
Most boats were volunteered, but some were requisitioned because owners could not be traced, with one dog being sent back by rail from Ramsgate with its address posted on its collar.
Prince Michael, honorary admiral of the association of Dunkirk little ships, will unveil the memorial at 3pm on Sunday, May 9.
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