The role of Tom Tit at Dunkirk is not officially recorded, as Ron Tomlinson and his brother Alan took the vessel impulsively and without formal authorization on 1 June 1940 from the end of Ramsgate Pier. Ron Tomlinson had been to Dunkirk the previous day serving as engineer on the trawler Tankerton Towers, which was towed back to Ramsgate full of French and British soldiers after its propeller was fouled.

After disembarking the soldiers at Ramsgate, Ron returned home briefly but was unable to rest due to what he had witnessed at Dunkirk. Together with his brother Alan, he went to the Admiralty office in the harbour and volunteered to return. They were initially sent off in a small boat with a young Sub-Lieutenant, who ordered them to turn back when he discovered they intended to take the shortest route across the Goodwin Sands. Upon re-entering Ramsgate harbour, Ron spotted Tom Tit tied up at the end of the breakwater and persuaded Alan to join him. Ron then jumped aboard and took possession of the vessel.

Their elder brother Fred, observing from the pier, warned them that one of the ship’s engines had previously caught fire. Despite this, they departed before anyone could intervene, heading directly toward the Goodwin Sands. During the voyage, they discovered a petrol leak—the cause of the earlier fire—and promptly stopped the engine to repair it, losing valuable time as the tide ebbed. The vessel touched bottom several times before clearing the shallows but ultimately reached Dunkirk safely.

Tom Tit made sixteen trips ferrying soldiers from the beaches to larger ships. On one occasion, a Sergeant Major at the jetty advised them not to return because German forces had reached the pier. They assured him they would continue as long as he remained, eventually persuading him to join them on their last trip.

Upon arrival back in Ramsgate the following morning, the Tomlinson brothers expected to be arrested for taking Tom Tit without permission. Instead, the Senior Naval Officer congratulated them and expressed a wish for more volunteers like them.

Forty-five years later, Ron Tomlinson recognized the vessel—then named Melinda Margot—while having a drink at the Mill House, Frogholt. The owner showed him a picture of the boat recently purchased by his brother, and Ron confirmed its identity by noting signs of fire damage in the starboard engine.

Today, Tom Tit is a cherished family boat based on the lower Thames. Her current owners actively support the Association, and the vessel is regularly seen at scheduled events. Tom Tit was also featured in the 2015 Palau postage stamp series titled "The Little Ships of Dunkirk."