With service medals glittering on their well pressed suits , English , French and Belgian veterans of the historic evacuation of the British Expenditionary Force from the beaches of Dunkirk during the dark days of June 1940 , march along the promenade at Dunkirk 5th June , during celebrations marking the 25th Anniversary of the incredible evacuation . Some 400 men of the 337 131 men who were rescued from the beaches ( seen in the background ) , took part in a service of rememberance in front of the simple Allied memorial on the sand dunes , Dunkirk , France . 7 June 1965