Maldon & Heybridge Heritage Harbour

Don Baines will be joining supporters for an interesting talk on the role of Thames sailing barges at Dunkirk

The primary trade of Thames sailing barges was trans-shipping grain, but during the Dunkirk evacuation, they were repurposed to transport troops. The beaches at Dunkirk were too shallow for larger Royal Navy vessels to approach directly, so the British Admiralty assembled approximately 700 civilian craft, including Thames sailing barges, to ferry soldiers to waiting warships.  The barges, with their large deck space, were ideal for loading soldiers, but they also made easy targets for the Luftwaffe (the Nazi air force). 

These barges, along with other civilian boats, helped to evacuate over 336,000 British, French, and other Allied soldiers from Dunkirk. 

Our own s.b. Pudge was one of these Thames sailing barge's.

Get your tickets now from Eventbrite or email the secretary at [email protected] or text 07979 862952

We look forward to welcoming you.