The only surviving lifeboat from an iconic Manx ship, and the great-granddaughter of its wartime Captain, will sail to Dunkirk on 21st May to honour the Steam Packet Company’s role in a historic rescue operation.
85 years after the ship retrieved thousands of Allied troops, the Lady of Mann’s lifeboat No.8 will sail in company with up to 70 historic vessels from the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, all of which took part in the 1940 evacuation.
Weather permitting, the flotilla will sail from Ramsgate to Dunkirk at first light on Wednesday, May 21, escorted by the Royal Navy and the RNLI. A series of commemorative events will take place in France next weekend to mark the historic evacuation, known as ‘Operation Dynamo’, which saw some 340,000 servicemen rescued from the French coast.
Joining the crew of the lifeboat is Sarah Parry, the great granddaughter of Captain Tom Woods, who commanded the Lady of Mann at Dunkirk and throughout the ship’s wartime service. Under Captain Woods the ship made three landings at Dunkirk and carried 2,906 men back to England, despite being shelled and dive-bombed during the crossings.
When the Lady of Mann was broken up in 1971, the lifeboat was salvaged and converted into a pleasure boat with a cabin. Since 2010 it has been painstakingly restored by Matt Cain and his father Brian, who recognised its historical importance. This is the first chance for the lifeboat to return to Dunkirk since its restoration, but the weather must be perfect for the boat to attempt the crossing.
The Cain family has its own connection to Dunkirk as Matt’s grandfather, Manxman George Cain, was rescued from the beaches by a Belgian fishing boat. Matt said: ‘As a lifelong Steam Packet enthusiast, it was always our ambition to save, restore and take her back to Dunkirk in honour of my grandfather and all those Manxmen who gave their all for the cause, both as soldiers and as Steam Packet Company crew.’
The Lady of Mann was one of eight Steam Packet Company ships which took part in the evacuation, rescuing over 20,000 troops between them. Roughly one in every 15 servicemen retrieved from Dunkirk was carried aboard a Manx vessel. Three of the company’s ships, and 40 members of their crews, were tragically lost during the nine-day operation.
Matt said: ‘As far as we are aware, this will be the first time any vessel connected to the Steam Packet fleet will have been back to Dunkirk since 1940. We hope to honour, and draw attention to, the bravery and sacrifice of the Company’s men and their ships.’
