As a flotilla of small ships marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Dunkirk, the Steam Packet Company is remembering its own huge contribution to the evacuation.

By May 26 in 1940, hundreds of thousands of troops were stranded on the French beaches and cut off by advancing German forces.

Thanks to the efforts of civilian vessels, more than 300,000 were brought back to Britain by boats which had to contend with artillery, bombing, mines and warships.

Steam Packet Chief Executive Mark Woodward says four of the company’s ferries were lost during Operation Ariel – but the Manx ships played a crucial role.