Dunkirk Little Ship - ex RNLI “Prudential”
If you see a rugged craft called “Trimilia” in your travels, pause for a moment and drink in the fact that you are looking at one of the bulwarks of history.
An extract from an article by the Prudential Insurance Company when her owner at the time, a certain Group Captain Swain was responsible for the life assurance affairs of the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund, underwritten by Prudential.
Built in 1925, “Trimilia”, or “Prudential” as she was originally named, having been paid for by The Prudential Assurance Co., saw service with the R.N.L.I. at Ramsgate for 28 years, saving 330 lives and, manned by her own volunteer crew, had a major role to play in the British Expeditionary Force evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940.
Since then she has been in the private hands of five different owners,
undergone a number of changes and continues to fly her Association of Dunkirk Little Ships flag and wear her Dunkirk 1940 plaque and R.N.L.I. decals, all with great pride.
Including those rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940, during her 28 years in service, the “Prudential” saved a total 3130 souls
