Next year will mark the 75th anniversary of one of the most famous events in British military history.

From May 26 to June 4 1940, 300,000 troops were rescued from the French sea port, Dunkirk, after a failed last-ditch attempt to halt German forces advancing through Europe.

One of the 700 “little ships” involved in the rescue was Skylark IX, which is currently being restored in the River Clyde Boatyard in Clydebank by a team including clients of drugs support service Alternatives.

As part of next year’s anniversary, in May, a flotilla of 50 of the remaining rescue ships will relive the heroic events by travelling from the English seaside town of Ramsgate to Dunkirk.

Unfortunately, Skylark won’t be ready to take part in the event, but the group responsible for its restoration still plan on making the trip, with some travelling onto France itself.

Mary Burch, secretary of the Skylark IX Recovery Trust told the Post: “We certainly want to go down to Ramsgate and see the little ships before they set off.

“The trust will be going initially and we would hope some of the veterans and maybe some of the older pupils from the schools, even if it is during the summer holidays. It’s only right the three or four lads from Alternatives who have been working on the restoration get to go along, they’ve been offered job and courses since they started but have asked if they will be able to keep working on Skylark — it’s great it’s touched their hearts like that.

“If it means we need to do some extra funding then that’s what we’ll do, and if there’s any companies out there who would sponsor them that would be wonderful.” After decades of being used as a cruise ship in Loch Lomond, years of neglect took its tool and Skylark sank in the River Leven in 2010 — just two days after the 70th anniversary of the rescue mission.

Finally, in December of last year, the vessel was raised from the river and transported to Clydebank for salvage work.

Mary continued: “The funding process is such a long one, we knew Skylark wouldn’t be ready for next year’s events.

“It could have been rushed and finished in time, but we want to make sure it’s done right, that’s what’s important.

“We want the ship to be there for future generations to educate people about the importance of these events.” If you would also like to make the trip with the trust, there are limited spaces available.

The tour begins on May 20 2015 and lasts five days, with a deposit of £80 due at the end of this month.

A final payment is due eight weeks prior to the event around March 25, 2015, with an overall cost of £415.

To find out more information, contact Mary on mary.burch@blueyonder.co.uk.