The annual service to commemorate the Dunkirk evacuations took place at the Mona’s Queen memorial at Kallow Point, Port St Mary.

It saw an address given by retired Steam Packet managing director Captain Hamish Ross who was instrumental in bringing home the anchor of the Mona’s Queen III.

The anchor was returned to the island in 2011, 18 months after it was raised from the seabed at Dunkirk.

The memorial was opened with full honours in a dedication service on May 29 2012, the 72nd anniversary of the loss of the Mona’s Queen.

Eight Steam Packet Company ships took part in the historic rescue of the British Expeditionary Force from the Dunkirk beaches and brought 24,669 of them to safety.

Of a total of 338,226 troops rescued, one in 14 was brought out on a Steam Packet vessel. However, the operation came at a huge cost to the Steam Packet as in the space of 24 hours around May 29 1940, three ships - Mona’s Queen, King Orry and Fenella - were lost to enemy action.

The anchor is placed so that the shank points south east directly towards Dunkirk.

Monday’s memorial featured performances by the Ellan Vannin Pipe Band, Rushen Silver Band, the Mariners’ Choir and a solo by Paul Costain.

After an address by Captain Brew, the Last Post was sounded followed by a two-minute silence and the laying of wreaths at the memorial.

Then following the Manx National Anthem, new chairman of Port St Mary Commissioners Alan Grace gave a closing message.