At 96, Sub Lieutenant Bill Wedge was the sole veteran of Operation Fuller to attend the ceremony. In 1942, he was serving in aged destroyer HMS Worcester.

"We were all pretty appalled at how close we actually got towards the ships," the veteran recalled.

"I was responsible for the pom-poms on the quarterdeck - it was very scary, everyone was biting their nails. But our captain was very gung-ho and I reckon we got to within 2,000 yards. However none of our torpedoes hit and in return they found their target seven times!"

HMS Worcester wallowed in the Channel for hours awaiting rescue, before her stokers managed to get the engines going and she limped back to Harwich.

Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Boyce led tributes to the men of the Channel Dash at the Operation Fuller Memorial beneath Dover's imposing White Cliffs.

"We are here to remember the bravery of Royal Navy aircrew, the destroyers from Harwich and Sheerness and the RAF for their efforts in the air," he said.

"We must also remember the astute leadership of the German ships who attempted such a daring endeavour.

"Fortunately for us their movements through the Channel resulted in the sinking of two of them soon after by mines and bombing, once they made it to Wilhelmshaven."

The Germans reached home waters, but both battle-cruisers were damaged by mines. The Gneisenau was subsequently wrecked in dry dock by an RAF air attack. Only the Scharnhorst would ever pose a threat to the Royal Navy again until she was sunk by HMS Duke of York off the North Cape on Boxing Day in 1943.

Representing today's German Navy was Rear Admiral Axel Deertz. "It is always moving to attend these events and like many ceremonies, you cannot help get attached to the human losses that result from these actions and fights."

Flying in the same squadron as Esmonde and his men, Lieutenant Commander Martin Van Duin, 825 NAS' senior pilot, represented today's FAA with a Wildcat flypast.

"It's a honour to be part of a Naval Air Squadron with such a valiant heritage," he said.

"Members of 825 NAS are reminded daily of the Channel Dash by our battle honours, which are proudly displayed at Yeovilton."

Representing the next generation were Sea Cadets from Dover's TS Lynx.

"It was really good today and very impressive to see such a big turnout by the standard bearers on parade," said 17-year-old Leading Cadet Tamsin Porter.

"You can't help but be moved when you hear the stories of the brave men who took part in the Channel Dash."