In the same brilliant sunshine as 24 years ago , some of the Little Ships which helped to evacuate the hundreds of thousands of men of the British Expenditionary Force from the beaches of Dunkirk in June 1940 , during World War II enter Dunkirk Harbour , 4th June , after crossing the English Channel from Ramsgate . The Little Ships , including lifeboats , a Thames barge , an oyster smack , and weekend pleasure craft , were arriving at Dunkirk to take part in the 5th June anniversary celebrations . About 40 vessels of the incredible evacuation when more the 337 000 Britons , Frenchmen and Belgians were rescued from the Dunkirk beaches , took part in the weekend celebrations , Dunkirk , France . 7 June 1965