Dunkirk veterans return to French port town

Dunkirk veteran Arthur Taylor was accompanied by his grandsons Major Stuart Taylor and WO2 Ian Taylor as he laid a wreath in Dunkirk, France Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Dunkirk veterans returned to the French port town today to lead crowds of people in a touching memorial service to mark the 75th anniversary of the rescue of thousands of allied troops from the beach during World War Two.

Former soldier Arthur Taylor, 94, said he felt "enormous tears" as he laid a wreath at the Allied Beach Memorial in memory of those who died during the 1940 rescue mission.

Despite overcast weather a large crowd gathered around Dunkirk's memorial square to pay their own respects as a group of elderly veterans, now all in their nineties, listened to the service with their families.

Garth Wright, George Purton, Vic Viner, Arthur Taylor, Edward Oates, and James Baynes visit the beach in Dunkirk, France, following a service at the Allied Beach Memorial Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Dunkirk veteran Arthur Taylor, aged 94, holds a commemorative plaque given to veterans by the town of Dunkirk, France Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

During the service local schoolchildren gave a reading, wreaths were laid, and the standards were raised and lowered during the national anthems of Belgium, France and Britain, before the veterans stood to offer a swift salute as the notes of God Save The Queen rang out.

After the service the veterans made the journey to the edge of Dunkirk beach to pose for photos and reminisce.