<p><br /> World War II veterans have begun a series of events to mark the 70th anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation.<br /> </p><p><br /> Thousands of civilian small ships helped the Royal Navy rescue stranded Allied forces from French beaches in a daring operation between May 26 and June 4, 1940 - one of the defining moments of the war.<br /> </p><p><br /> The British Royal Navy, along with thousands of civilian boats set sail in a heroic attempt to rescue the nearly half a million British and French troops stranded there in the face of an advancing German army.<br /> </p><p><br /> In all, 338,000 soldiers were rescued thanks to the improvised flotilla and sometimes chaotic mission.<br /> </p><p><br /> This week Britain will remember the thousands of men left behind on the beaches 70 years ago and those who died trying to escape.<br /> </p><p><br /> From the English seaside town of Ramsgate a flotilla of small ships will set sail for France in a recreation of the Dunkirk mission.<br /> </p>
