Men who in 1940 risked their lives to crew the Dunkirk “little ships” should never be forgotten.

Those were the words of Lord Lieutenant of Kent Allan Willett, yesterday as many of the surviving boats visited Medway.

Speaking at a service on the quayside by Chatham’s No. 1 Basin, he said the owners of the surviving “little ships” were keeping the memories of “those gallant and selfless people” alive by lovingly preserving their craft.

Mr Willett was addressing a service to mark the 68th anniversary of the evacuation of Dunkirk.

Moored nearby were 12 of the vessels which actually took part in the evacuation. The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships had chosen Chatham for their annual anniversary rally.

Among the flotilla was Hilfranor, owned by Maidstone solicitor Simon Palmer who keeps her on the Thames.

“She was attacked by German planes which straddled her with bombs and cracked her ribs off Dunkirk,” he said. “She was abandoned and settled onto the sea bed.

“But then some desperate troops got on board, baled her out, got the engine started and headed for home. They grounded on the Goodwin Sands but were rescued by the Navy.”

John Tough, commodore of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, was unable to bring his own vessel ‘Thamesa’ because of engine trouble.

“That’s the problem with these old boats,” he said. “Age takes its toll on them and we don’t like to push them too hard.

“But we have had a wonderful reception here in Chatham. Many of the sailors who crewed the original “little ships” would have come from here.”