Fire Destroys Historic Vessel Involved in Dunkirk Evacuation

A boat that helped save thousands of French and British troops during WWII has been badly damaged by fire. The African Queen was one of the hundreds-strong fleet that defied the advancing German army to rescue the trapped soldiers during the Dunkirk evacuations.

Firefighters raced to Dartmouth Harbour in Devon, late on March 10, after reports the 50ft charter vessel was ablaze but they were unable to save the vessel. Among those who battled the blaze were volunteers from two RNLI lifeboats. These videos were shot by members of the Torbay lifeboat crew responding to the emergency. Credit: RNLI