skirtcafe.org

Dunkerque, a place normally not receiving much attention nowadays. Recently the was an item on the French TV on Dunkerque as a town and more specifically, carnaval. This year it's not taking place due to the covid problems, but in the past it seems to be a special event. Namely that it's custom for the men to dress in womens clothing for which is catered the Saturday before. One of the "mandatory" items is a fur(like) coat. Seemingly the (fisher)men weren't allowed by their wifes to enjoy the festivities but had to go out to sea and fish. In order not to be recognised, they dressed as women.

The little port is much more famously remembered for the evacuation of 338,000 British & Allied troops in a fleet of little private boats, each manned by civilians, as the Navy just didn't have the capacity to carry out such an emergency operation in 1940......81 years ago.

It took a further 4 years before the Allies regained a foothold on the Continent on the Normandy beaches in 1944.

Tom

In size it's now the third port of France, eventhough Sète cliams to be that now.