An exhibition to mark the 80th anniversary of the loss of the Mona’s Queen at Dunkirk has been given a financial boost by Rushen masonic lodge.

Lodge members presented £1,940 - reflecting the year she was lost in 1940 - to Port St Mary Commissioners, who are custodians of the anchor from the vessel.

The anchor is sited at the port’s Kallow Point and is a place of pilgrimage to contemplate the dramatic event involving the evacuation of 340,000 servicemen from the French coast.

Eight Steam Packet vessels rescued an estimated 25,000 troops while under heavy fire from German forces.

Mona’s Queen, King Orry and Fenella were lost within 24 hours around May 29.

Mona’s Queen hit a mine and sank, with the loss of 24 men.

The ship’s anchor was lifted off the sea bed in 2010 and it returned to the island in October 2011.

Captain Jack Ryan, whose two uncles were serving on board when she sank, along with Terry Kelly - whose father Paul died on the ship - fought to site the anchor at Kallow Point.

A service is held there on May 29 each year.

Captain Ronan, a member of Rushen lodge, said: ’Masonic tradition recommends when a lodge reaches its centenary it donates the amount of its official number to charity.

’A saving fund was set up some 25 years previous and the amount of £3,944 was achieved.

’Again tradition suggested half of any charitable amount remain within the parameters of masonry but the balance then be donated to a charity or charities within the home area of the lodge.

’As the lodge had been formed at Port St Mary on November 13, 1919 within the parish of Rushen it was proposed the balance be donated to Port St Mary Commissioners the custodians of the Mona’s Queen anchor, it was seconded and approved unanimously for the dedication of the anchor upkeep and the 2020 commemoration of remembrance of those who gave their all at that immense challenge in the nation’s history.’ At Easter a dive team will visit the wreck and take a photographic and video record of the wreck, which will be displayed in the exhibition along wth memorabilia.

Village commissioners’ chairman Michelle Haywood, who runs Discover Diving, is involved in the dive at the wreck.

They are using the 1934 plans by ship builder Cammell Laird to coordinate the dive by a team of 10 divers.

She said: ’Because of the research we have done we are very aware of the stories of those lost on the Mona’s Queen, visiting a wreck is moving anyway but will be even more evocative.

’We are aware we will be paying the respects on behalf of the Manx nation.’

The dive team are planning to place a plaque at the wreck site.

To supply memorabilia and/or information for the exhibition call 300090 or email [email protected]