The Medusa ship used in the Second World War and the recent film Dunkirk is coming to town next week.

Medusa is the only remaining example in original and seagoing condition that was used between 1939-1945 for harbour defence, anti-submarine work and for convoy escort duties.

In the recent film, Dunkirk, she can be seen in the background several times, but her main role was taking Harry Styles from the old mole out to the destroyer waiting offshore.

Launched on October 20, 1943, she formed part of the Western task force for the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. She remained on station for 30 hours under enemy gunfire and subsequently escorted ships to the beach heads in Normandy.

After the war, Medusa acted as a training ship to the Royal Naval Reserve. After retiring from naval charge in 1965, she then continued sailing and even starred in the BBC television series ‘Private Shultz’ and in 1991 ‘Lovejoy’.

After a four-year rebuild supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Medusa was relaunched and privileged to have a rededication ceremony in Portsmouth Naval Base.

Thanks to the vision and commitment of so many volunteers over the years, this little D-Day survivor will continue to inspire future generations and stands as an active memorial to those who lost their lives in coastal forces during the war.

She will be arriving in Dartmouth on Wednesday, May 30, when she will make her way to Sandquay where she will be moored for two nights welcoming visitors from the naval college and local sea cadets.

On Friday, she will make her way to the Town Jetty and over the weekend, the historic ship will be open to visitors for free, during sessions from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5pm.

On Monday she will be leaving Dartmouth for D-Day commemorations in France.