Battle of Dunkirk Sites, Beaches and Memorials
- Begin the tour at the 1873 fortifications, which served as the French headquarters during the Battle of Dunkirk. Learn about their role in the defense and evacuation.
Continue to the port area to see the East Mole, the key embarkation point where most soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force were evacuated. Stop at an impressive German-built bunker and view the preserved section of the original East Mole.
Visit the wide sandy evacuation beaches. Reflect on their role in Operation Dynamo and imagine the tense scenes of May-June 1940, when soldiers awaited rescue by the Dunkirk Little Ships.
Drive past the historic paddle steamer Princess Elizabeth, which made four return trips across the Channel and rescued 1,673 troops. Pass through the town center on the way to the British Memorial.
Conclude with a stop at the British Memorial, dedicated to the 4,528 soldiers who fell in 1940 and have no known grave. Explore the nearby cemetery where 810 British soldiers are buried, most of whom died defending the Dunkirk perimeter during the evacuation.
