New Operation Dynamo memorial in Deal
A new memorial in Deal was unveiled in May 2025 which honours local men and the boats they sailed to rescue soldiers from Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo. RNLI lifeboat crewmember and Walmer Station historian Colin Varrall talks about the project in which he was involved that led to the plaque's unveiling in the 85th anniversary year of the Dunkirk evacuation.
The official unveiling of the Deal memorial plaque took place at 2pm on Sunday 25th May 2025. The plaque honours five men: Harry Brown, Fred Hook, Alfred Betts, James O’Neill, and Nathan Cohen, who sailed from Deal beach in May 1940 to help evacuate hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk. The plaque also honours seven Deal boats that were used during the Operation: Lady Haig, Moss Rose, Britannic, Rose Marie, Gipsy King, and two lifeboats from the wreck of the ship Dunbar Castle.
Harry Brown, one of the Deal boatmen who sailed to Dunkirk in May 1940. While there he tied a rope around his waist and swam to a drifting pontoon with several soldiers onboard. On his return to Deal he recalled seeing more than one man swept away by the tide as they couldn't reach the boats. (Image credit: Colin Varrall.)
The Lady Haig, which is now the only remaining Deal motorboat that went to Dunkirk. She is owned by Dover District Council and Dover Museum, and has been kept in storage for the past 25 years. (Image credit: Terry Neal.)
The Dutch coaster Hilda and the Deal boats taking soldiers from the beach at La Panne, north of Dunkirk. (Image credit: Colin Varrall.)
The Dutch coaster Hilda towing the Deal boats in line across the Channel. (Image credit: Colin Varrall.)
The Deal motorboat Rose Marie, which went to Dunkirk in May 1940. This image was taken during the early stage of the Second World War, as it has Dr James Hall on board who was often called out to casualties on ships from all nations that were anchored in the Downs off Deal. (Image credit: Colin Varrall.)
The journey leading to this ceremony began in 2023 at a presentation held at the Astor Theatre in Deal. I was approached by Nicola Goodban, a fellow volunteer at Walmer Lifeboat Station, after a short film was shown highlighting the absence of a memorial to the men and boats that sailed from Deal to assist with Operation Dynamo. The film had been produced by retired Deal boatmen David Skardon, and narrated by local historian Stuart Smith. Nicola called in the help of friend Steve Milne, a former HM Coastguard whose grandfather was responsible for building two of the boats, the Moss Rose and Gipsy King, that travelled from Deal to Dunkirk in May 1940. The three of us began planning a proposal to have a small working group organising the placement of a permanent memorial situated somewhere in Deal.
We began an extensive research project to find an accurate list of the Deal men and boats involved in 1940. We are particularly grateful to Ian Williams, archivist at the Deal Museum, who provided documents containing valuable information. Books, newspaper articles, and websites were also consulted to gather the most accurate accounts we could find. We also met with Dave Skardon and Stuart Smith, the men who produced and narrated the short film that kick-started the memorial project, and who were very keen to help with our research.
There were also the practical considerations of the project, such as funding, design and construction. We held a special event to raise funds and spread awareness of the plan for a memorial to be displayed. The event was incredibly successful, and we also received support from Deal Town Council and the Deal Society. Steve's daughter, Jenny Preston, was responsible for designing the memorial, while another volunteer at Walmer Lifeboat Station, Lewis Monks, constructed and assembled the plaque.
Our next challenge was to select an appropriate location for the memorial plaque. Following meetings with Jayne Miles from Dover District Council towards the end of 2024, a final decision was made to display the plaque on the wall close to the old North Deal Boatmen’s Rooms. The wall is owned by the Mary Hougham Almshouses, retirement houses for Deal boatmen, which granted us permission to place the plaque on the wall. This is a significant location for several reasons, not least because Harry Brown and Fred Hook lived at the Mary Hougham Almshouses during their retirement. The North Deal Boatmen’s Rooms was one of the first places to receive news of the need for boats to assist with Operation Dynamo. It was also where Fred Hook missed his own wedding reception to take part in the evacuation! Bruce Brown, the nephew of Harry Brown, remembered attending the wedding reception where a policeman and naval officer arrived to request Deal boats be made available for the Operation.
At last, the day came to unveil the memorial. Two relatives of the men who sailed from Deal to Dunkirk were asked to unveil the plaque at the ceremony. The first was Bruce Brown, nephew of Harry Brown and former Deal boatman, mechanic and Coxswain of Walmer lifeboats between 1973 and 1982. The second was David Cohen, a relative of Nathan Cohen. Speeches were read by Nicola Goodban and Steve Milne, a poem was read by historian Stuart Smith, and the memorial was blessed by the Reverend Monica Cameron. An after-ceremony event was held at the Deal Rowing Club along The Marina, where Nathan Cohen had been a member before the Second World War. It was an honour to be involved in this project memorialising the Deal men who risked their lives, and the boats in which they sailed during Operation Dynamo.
Two photographs showing the Deal Operation Dynamo memorial plaque when it was unveiled in May 2025 (top) compared to its current appearance (bottom). The memorial was designed to tarnish and show some age, which is going well with the rusting effect and the colour change of the brass. (Image credit: Colin Varrall.)
You can find out more about this fascinating piece of Deal's history in a free booklet. Please email Colin Varrall for more details at colinvarrall@outlook.com
Colin Varrall is a local historian with a particular interest in nautical heritage. His interest began after joining the Walmer Lifeboat Station as a volunteer in 2005. He continues to be a crewmember of the Station's RNLI lifeboats, and he is one of the Station's historians. Colin is the self-published author of 'Engineering Richborough', which examines the development of the 2,200 acres site of Richborough Port built during the First World War. He has also written and contributed towards other local history books, and he is a member of several local heritage groups, including the Elvington and Eythorne Heritage Group. Colin's writing can be found in a range of publications, including in the East Kent Mercury newspaper, Bygone Kent, and Subterranea magazine.
