Dunkirk beach master rescue hero Vic Viner dies aged 99

One of the last remaining survivors of the Royal Navy’s Dunkirk rescue operation has died aged 99.

Vic Viner spent six days and nights on the beaches during the Second World War rescue mission in 1940.

The 99-year-old, who served with the navy between 1933 and 1947, was a “beach master” during the evacuations and marshalled troops off the sand and onto the little ships.

Mr Viner was believed to be one of the last surviving Royal Navy veterans to take part in Operation Dynamo.

Ian Gilbert, former commodore of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS), paid tribute to Mr Viner, “a great individual with a superb personality” who “never seemed to think of himself as somebody who was well into their 90s”.

“He was very significant for us as he was the last survivor of what was known as the Royal Naval beach masters,” he said.

“They were landed by the Royal Navy on the beaches of Dunkirk and their job was to marshal the troops in an orderly fashion to get them onto the boats.

“He’s certainly the last Royal Navy veteran that I know that took part in Operation Dynamo.”

Mr Viner’s older brother, Albert, was one of 300 men who died on MV Crested Eagle on May 29 when it was bombed by German planes during the rescue mission.

Mr Viner, who was 23 at the time, was on the beach when the Thames paddle steamer was hit.

He watched as flames tore through the vessel, killing all on board, and later discovered that his 25-year-old brother was one of those to have died.

The day before Operation Dynamo began on May 27, Mr Viner was ordered aboard a destroyer and told to take one of its small boats and pick up soldiers from the beaches.

Surrey-based Mr Viner had two children, Michael and Elizabeth, and two grandchildren.

Mr Viner’s job was to marshal the troops to get them onto boats at Dunkirk.