The heroic wartime feats of the Medway Queen will be forever remembered by the name of Medway’s newest road.

The veteran paddle steamer was one of the Little Ships which played a vital role in the evacuation of the beaches at Dunkirk during the Second World War.

More than 75 years on, the vessel’s efforts have been remembered with a new road sign outside the Asda superstore in Gillingham.

Dynamo Way is named after Operation Dynamo, codename of the rescue of thousands of Allied troops from the beaches in northern France.

The idea came from Labour councillor Pat Cooper, whose ward includes Gillingham Pier where the celebrated ship is undergoing massive restoration.

Cllr Cooper felt it was important that the landmark in British military history, which prompted Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight Them on the Beaches” speech, should be commemorated.

She said: “It took quite a few meetings with our council officers and Asda but everyone was in agreement. It was a good example of the community working together.”

John Kempton, vice-chairman of the Medway Queen Preservation Society, said it was a fitting tribute.

Mr Kempton said: “It is lovely that now with the sign up outside Asda, her efforts will be remembered for many generations to come.”

Rosie Smith, Asda’s community spokeswoman, said: “We are really pleased to be part of the local community in Gillingham and honoured to be next door neighbours with the Medway Queen. We look forward to supporting them throughout the year.”

The Medway Queen was among a flotilla of so-called Little Ships to make the tortuous voyage across the Channel several times to rescue up to 40,000 soldiers under attack in May 1940.

All available seaworthy craft in Kent were assembled in Sheerness dockyard giving rise to the term, “Dunkirk spirit”, an expression still used to describe the British ability to rally together in the face of adversity.