Harry Leigh-Dunmore listened to waves strike the shore and gulls shriek overhead. A year ago, he mused, I’d have considered this a lark, sitting on the beach under a sunny sky.
But this was May 25, 1940, and Harry found himself waiting on the French coast for rescue while dozens of German panzer tanks barreled westward toward him and more than 300,000 others of the British Expeditionary Forces gathering on the beaches of Dunkirk.
The Germans had blitzed through Belgium, Holland, and southern France, surrounding the Allied forces and leaving them stranded on the coast.
Rumors spread that ships from Britain would soon rescue them, but how could such an effort be mounted in time and for so many? Harry dared hope they’d find a way.
In the distance, he and every other soldier heard the rumble of the Luftwaffe (the German air force) approaching again from the east.
Quickly they spread out and hunched down small and tight, to make themselves difficult targets. There wasn’t enough cover to protect them all.
Meanwhile in England, in spite of predictions that only 20,000 to 30,000 men could be rescued, Prime Minister Winston Churchill had sanctioned Operation Dynamo on May 20, to begin on Sunday May 26.
Vice Admiral Ramsay called for every boat or ship owner willing to participate in the dangerous mission, to gather their crafts around Dover on the southwestern coast. More than eight hundred began to assemble [1].
The plan called for smaller boats to shuttle the soldiers from the shallow waters of Dunkirk to larger vessels and naval ships anchored further out, that would then transport the men back to Dover. French ground forces and the RAF would provide cover.
King George VI, a man of strong faith, received briefing of the plan and the dire predictions. On May 24th he called for a National Day of Prayer to occur as evacuations would begin May 26.
Within hours of that call to prayer, Hitler halted that western-bound panzer assault, just ten miles or so from Dunkirk [2], in order to give the German infantry time to catch up [3].
German General Göring assured Hitler the Luftwaffe could decimate the beach-stranded soldiers, even though only one run per day was possible. (They had to fly from Germany and attack quickly in order to conserve fuel for the return trip [4]).
On Sunday May 26th as the rescue mission began, millions of Britons overflowed the churches into the streets, praying for God’s intervention on behalf of their boys.
On Tuesday, more stormy weather grounded the Luftwaffe. Wednesday brought uncommonly calm waters in the English Channel, making it possible for the smallest of boats to participate in the rescue and make the crossings quickly.
When the storms subsided, fog rolled in. The Luftwaffe still couldn’t fly. In fact, for the ten days boats and ships crisscrossed the English Channel, the German pilots only had two and a half days of good weather for attack.
Even then their efforts were often stymied. One group of about four hundred men suffered machine-gun fire and bombing from about sixty aircraft. Not a single man was killed [5].
Another soldier related that many of his comrades knew Psalm 91 by heart. During the Luftwaffe attacks they shouted the verses together [6].
When each Luftwaffe attack subsided, the scattered men would return in orderly fashion to their places in the lines [7].
Meanwhile, a breeze took the smoke from the German bombs and protected from view the soldiers loading onto boats [8].
By June 4, the mission was complete. Yes, there were casualties, but the British had evacuated 338,226 soldiers, including approximately 140,000 French, Belgian, Dutch, and Polish troops [9].
“Battle of Dunkirk” (1940) by Charles Ernest Cundall
Harry Leigh-Dunmore was among them. After a three-hour crossing, he and hundreds of other soldiers were loaded onto a train. Harry promptly fell asleep; he awoke in Wales [10].
In fact, trains took the Dunkirk evacuees all over Britain. Women’s organizations provided food and drink at railway stations as the trains passed through.
Once each train arrived at its destination, the men were taken to barracks made ready to house and feed them—another divinely-engineered feat of staggering proportions.
God had answered their prayers; he’d brought about the “the miracle of Dunkirk.”
King George designated the next Sunday, June 9, a Day of Thanksgiving. Citizens and rescued soldiers stood side-by-side in churches across Britain and sang together Psalm 124 [11]:
[1] https://www.godreports.com/2017/07/dunkirk-god-answered-prayers-in-miraculous-ways/
[2] https://www.christianstogether.net/Articles/200052/Christians_Together_in/Christian_Life/The_Miracle_of.aspx
[3] https://the-past.com/feature/was-dunkirk-really-a-miracle/
[4] tij.tv/shows/the-miracle-of-dunkirk
[5] https://www.standingforfreedom.com/2025/05/26/this-week-in-history-gods-miracle-at-dunkirk/
[6] https://kinshipradio.org/home/psalm-91-and-the-miracle-of-dunkirk/
[7] https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance/stories/remembering-dunkirk
[8] https://guideposts.org/articles/angels-and-miracles/miracles/gods-grace/the-four-miracles-of-dunkirk/
[9] https://www.standingforfreedom.com
[10] https://www.britishlegion.org.uk
[11] https://www.christianstogether.net
Image credits: http://www.pickpik.com; http://www.picryl.com (5); http://www.jenikirbyhistory.getarchive.net; http://www.picryl.com; http://www.canva.com.
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Nancy, I feel as if we’ve got to a place of crisis in our nation, in our world, where just such a spirit pf prayer is needed more than ever. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). It’s time to put on the “full armor of God.” Your post reminds us it’s been done before as a people united in prayer. It can be done again in our churches and streets.
AMEN, Dora, and well said!! You are so right–God has ordained prayer as a force that can accomplish much, through the lives of believers who pray fervently and persistently. “It is dynamic and can have tremendous power” (James 5:16 AMP). Therefore, we are never without hope! Praying with you, Dora!
Collective prayer is powerful and the miraculous rescue of a multitude of soldiers at Dunkirk is a good example. Thanks, Nancy! 🙂
You’re welcome, Nancy. The power of prayer is impossible to explain. “But somehow it enables us to enter the field of spiritual conflict, and to align ourselves with the good purposes of God, so that his power is released and the principalities of evil are bound” (John Stott). That certainly was illustrated at Dunkirk!
Yes, it was! I love the quote by Stott. 🙏✝️🙏
Beautifully written ❤️
Thank you, Lisa. Praise God for his help and inspiration behind every post!
What an amazing story of the power of prayer. I love that it started at the “top.” We need Godly men and women in leadership who will stand up in the face of evil and depend on God.
I too find it heartwarming and inspiring that King George was the one to call for prayer. In his statement he said: “Let us with one heart and soul, humbly but confidently, commit our cause to God and ask his aid, that we may valiantly defend the right as it is given to us to see it…. With God’s help, we shall not fail” (from the http://www.standingforfreedom.com article; see footnotes above). May our Christian leaders in high places also be bold to stand up in the face of evil and depend on God, just as you’ve said, Linda. That can be a part of our prayers in this day and time.
I forwarded your post to my pastor. His response: “I remember my dad once told me this historical story, it makes much more sense when you add God into the equation.” So true!
Thank you for forwarding this post, Linda–I’m honored. Your pastor’s observation is spot on!
Prayer is the power and the bedrock of our Judeo-Christian heritage. When we call upon God for intercession and mercy with humbled hearts, I’m convinced that there is nothing He can’t do for His people. I can’t begin to tell you, Nancy, how many times I’ve prayed 2 Chronicles 7:14 over the years when it felt that our country was being taken over by people of secular persuasion. I know that Britain today isn’t in the place that it was during WWII. May they see and realize in this world how to combat the devil’s hold! Blessings, and thank you for this wonderful story about faithful, devoted prayer. God does listen!
God does indeed hear our prayers–as we approach him with humility and faith. And praise God we are NEVER without hope! I’ve heard that in recent elections in Britain the Labor Party suffered many losses and the more conservative Reform UK Party did very well. Perhaps the tide is turning toward more traditional, tried-and-true norms and practices.
Wow 😮 thanks for sharing
I only knew the basic facts about Dunkirk when I began research about this pivotal moment in history. The more I read, the more amazed I became at the way events unfolded. There were just too many factors that lined up in favor of the Allies to credit happenstance! Herbert Butterfield (1900-1979), the Oxford historian of modern history, was convinced that what Christians do in prayer is the most significant factor in the shaping of history (referenced by Eugene Peterson in Under the Unpredictable Plant). Dunkirk offers proof that he was right.
Amen and amen 🙏🏽 prayer is powerful because it is directed to the God of the universe
I agree with the other comments – such an illustration of the power of prayer and encouragement to continue to pray for peace in this crazy world.
Amen, Jean. AMEN! We mustn’t give up but persevere in prayer for our leaders, for people to come to the truth in Christ, for God’s wisdom, protection and power over his people in dangerous places.
So powerful and wonderful!
I never realized just how miraculous the rescue at Dunkirk actually was, until I started researching for this post. It IS a powerful story, isn’t it? And the astounding events on such a grand scale, expansively highlight the wonders our God can perform (Psalm 77:14)! He IS an amazing and powerful God!
Amen!
I really appreciated learning in detail about this event. Thank you for taking the time to do all of that research! And I never knew that King George VI was such a man of strong faith. It warms my heart to know this. And that he designated the next Sunday, June 9, a Day of Thanksgiving. Citizens and rescued soldiers stood side-by-side in churches across Britain and sang together Psalm 124.
I actually enjoy doing research, Cheri. Prior to putting together this blog post I only knew basic info about the rescue at Dunkirk. The facts that King George called for prayer, that people responded in such large numbers, and that numerous miracles converged to make the rescue possible, were amazing details waiting to be discovered! With you, I found that Day of Thanksgiving on June 9 especially meaingful. How often do people receive a special blessing and forget to say thank you to God? Not King George! And it is a poignant scene to imagine: British citizens, praying for the miracle one Sunday and standing next to recipients of the miracle the next Sunday!
Prayer is important for everyone. I’m thankful we can pray in every situation. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
Amen, Melissa. It IS a glorious reality that we can take all concerns to our Heavenly Father–the small and the great. Also incredible: Nothing is impossible for our God–even the rescue of 300,000+ soldiers in ten days!
What an amazing demonstration of God’s attention to the prayers of His people. And He will do the same today in our personal lives as well as in nations. How far we have strayed from God, though, personally and nationally. He waits for us to turn to Him. Thank you for this true story of that very principle, Nancy.
Agreed, Patty. That ability to engineer events and the power to execute them is still at work through our God who never changes (Malachi 3:6). But it is the prayer of the righteous–the believer–that accomplishes much (James 5:16 AMP). God does indeed wait for us to turn to him as you’ve said. I do wonder, would the same percentage of our population overflow the churches today, should a Dunkirk-like situation occur in our time? Meanwhile I pray that the resurgence of Christian faith among Gen Z and Millennials will have a ripple effect among all age groups!
Such a powerful story, Nancy; one I wasn’t aware of despite a lot of reading I’ve done on the World Wars. I read both Psalms as you mentioned them. One was certainly fitting in the moment of threat, while the other was certainly fitting in the moment of celebration.
I too was struck by the display of God’s power in this story, Dave. And with you, knew little except the part about small boats pressed into service to assist. Isn’t it amazing how many soldiers knew Psalm 91 by heart in that time? I wonder how many have it memorized these days?
I had so many thoughts while reading this, Nancy, one of them being that it is beautiful that so many people were willing to pray together, as that is surely part of the reason the prayers were so powerful.
There are many different books titled “The Power of Prayer,” and I can’t remember which one it was that I read, but a friend lent me her book a few years ago that detailed a series of military victories that the author correlated to his prayer life.
It can be challenging to remember to pray for this country and our leaders because, if I’m honest, my microcosm of existence and parenting and work feels more pressing day to day. But this post is a reminder that prayer works and that it’s our duty to hold our country up in prayer and pray for military wisdom.
Corporate prayer fosters unity, which certainly benefited Britain in 1940 as they began the desperate fight against Germany. It also bolsters the faith of all who participate. The millions who prayed one week were celebrating God the next, glorifying him for his enablement and protection. Since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, we too can pray for our country with confident faith as we face enemies from without and within. I so appreciate what Kay Arthur wrote in her book, His Imprint, My Expression: “Have you ever realized that God could use your earnest prayers to change the course of our nation’s history, to stay God’s hand of judgment, and to make you into the child of God you long to be in the process? For you cannot spend time in prayer–even intercessory prayer–and not have it impact you personally” (p. 157). That helps me to pray for the USA and remain hopeful of God’s intervention, to bring good out of the most dire of circumstances. / Thank you for your honesty, Stacey. God delights in that (Proverbs 12:22)!
A tremendous achievement w/ God’s help.
Indeed–God tipped the scales more than a little over those ten days! He certainly did help Britain and delivered them from the wicked; he saved them, because they took refuge in him (Psalm 37:40 ESV).
My Dad always talked about the ‘weight’ of prayer. After a major surgery, he told me that he could ‘feel’ all the people praying for him. God hears our every prayer, even the unspoken ones within our hearts. Thank you for sharing this post with us…a testimony to the power of prayer!!!
I agree with your dad 100%! I too have felt God’s peace and joy in knowing people were praying for us. There IS “weight” to prayer–influence and force–because God has given us the privilege to participate in his work in this way. I’ve heard prayer compared to our hand on top of God’s hand as he wields his power, much as a child might lay his hand on his father’s hand as Dad wields a plane or saw. It is work to pray, but it’s also a grand privilege.
psalms 149 & psalms 66
Wow, Nancy, I have goosebumps reading this. The power of prayer. Absolutely miraculous. Beautiful retelling of the story. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Wynne. I was wowed by this story also, not knowing much about the rescue except basic facts. When my research turned up the importance of prayer in this endeavor, I was most surprised of all. Why hadn’t I heard that part of the story?! From what I understand, the quasi-recent film about Dunkirk (2017) doesn’t include this most important element. Sad, but NOT surprising, given the secularization of our western culture.
God’s faithfulness at a time of such incredible disaster is such a wonderful reminder of the power of prayer, and how a country can come together for the purpose of seeking God’s goodness and grace for those they care about. How amazing would it be if that would be something we could see happening all over the world–revival would break out in droves, and people would come to faith from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Thanks so much for sharing this. I pray daily for revival, and sometimes I have to ask the question fo God what it will take for that to happen.
I too pray for revival, Dayle, and no doubt many are praying with us!