| The Royal Navy Amphibious Assault ship HMS Bulwark arrived in Dover Harbour during the late afternoon on 31st May 2008. She was transporting 300 cyclists engaged in the “ Help for Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride” in support of the Help for Heroes charity which is collecting money to build a swimming pool and gym complex at Headley Court, a tri-service rehabilitation centre in Surrey. The cyclists departed from HMS Victory in Portsmouth and took the ferry to Ouistreham then cycled through northern France visiting the sites of WW1 and WW2 battles before boarding HMS Bulwark by landing craft at Dunkerque, 68 years after the legendary WW2 evacuation. On arrival in Dover, Bulwark conducted a full amphibious offload, flooding her dock to discharge her four LCU’s and lowering two of the smaller LCVP’s from her davits. The landing craft ran up on the beach on Dover seafront and discharged their cargo of cyclists, whilst men from the Red Devils parachute team dropped in the sea around them. The cyclists made their way up to London the following day to conclude a ride which raised over a million pounds. Sadly, hardly anyone in Dover had been made aware that this extraordinary landing was taking place and there were very few spectators to witness this incredible spectacle and welcome the cyclists ashore. |
