River Thames, Staines, Surrey, England, UK, September 2nd 2023. The 28th Annual Veterans Cruise took place over the weekend. The event is organised by the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS), and welcomes some of the last veterans from Operation Dynamo, Normandy Veterans, Chelsea Pensioners, Far East Prisoners of War, ladies who served in the WRENS during WWII and Coastal Forces Veterans. The fleet departed from Penton Hook Marina in Chertsey, cruised to Staines-upon-Thames, turned and went back. Pictured: the Breda motor yacht with other little ships
Dab II was taken to Dunkirk by Lieut. R. W. Thompson, RNVR, who crossed the Channel no less than three times in six days. On his last return journey, he brought back a load of Dutch soldiers, who came from Breda in Holland and had fought a gallant rearguard action westward to Dunkirk, driven by the weight of the German advance. Painted battleship grey, Dab II served as a patrol boat until she was returned to Col. Hardy, who then decided that her name was unsuitable for a ship of her size and distinguished war record. But he thought it might be unlucky to change a ship's name altogether. So, he called her Breda, which ingeniously retained all the letters in her original name and commemorated the Dutch soldiers she had rescued.
Size: 3200px × 4800px
Location: Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, England, UK
Photo credit: © Gillian Pullinger / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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