Seven Zeppelins set off last night to attack London, though two were forced to turn back.
L14 came inland over the Norfolk coast at about 8.15pm and flew west of Norwich before heading towards London. At 10.30pm L14 bombed Sudbury with 27 bombs. Extensive damage was caused and Ellen Wheeler, Thomas and Ellen Ambrose and John Edward Smith were killed. Rifleman Robert Wilson was severely injured by glass at his billet in Constitution Hill. L14 then continued towards London and at 11.05pm bombed Braintree killing Ann Herbert, Alfred Dennington, his wife Annie and their three-year-old niece Ella Hammond. At Kelvedon hatch an AA gun and searchlight engaged L.14 without success. L14 then proceeded to drop a succession of bombs across the countryside without causing any serious damage before heading out to sea at Dunwich, south of Southwold, at about 3.00am.
L16 appeared over Winterton at around 10.10pm and reached Bury St Edmunds at 11.45pm. Two mobile 1-pdr guns opened fire. L16 responded by dropping 26 bombs on the town wrecking two cottages and damaging nine others. Annie Dureall was killed along with two of her children James and Catherine when the floor collapsed below them. Three other children survived. Their neighbour Harry Frost was also severely injured. Hubert Hardiment, a 21-year-old soldier was killed when the back of his house collapsed on him. Finally, Henry Adams, 60, and his son George were killed when a bomb hit the Vicarage. L16 headed east and dropped a final bomb over Lowestoft, causing considerable damage to a tram shed in the town.
L13 came inland over Sizewell in Suffolk at about 8.00pm. Commander Heinrich Mathy decided to attack Stowmarket where he knew the New Explosive Company was located. Mathy attempted to locate the works by dropping flares. A searchlight and two AA guns opened up on L13, but Mathy failed to realise they were defending the works. Mathy circled around and approached the town again at about 9.15pm. , The AA guns opened up again and damaged one of the gasbags. Losing gas, Mathy immediately set course for the coast dropping bombs on Wangford narrowly missing RNAS Covehithe. By now L13 was lightened and able to struggle home.
L22 was delayed for four hours due to serious engine problems. They abandoned London and targeted the Humber. At about 1.35am a searchlight locked on to L22 and a 1-pdr AA gun at Waltham Wireless Station opened fire. L22 dropped 26 bombs with little effect. At 1.48am L22 arrived at Cleethorpes, dropping six bombs. One of these hit the roof of a Baptist Chapel, a billet for a company of the 3rd (Special Reserve) battalion of the Manchester Regiment who had arrived only the previous day. When the rubble was cleared and the bodies recovered 31 men were dead and 51 injured.
Alfred de Bathe Brandon
The fifth Zeppelin, L15, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Joachim Breithaupt, crossed the coast at Dunwich, Suffolk at about 7.45pm. L15 bombed Ipswich at about 8.20pm, killing a man standing outside The Gun public house. Another bomb fell on Stoke Bathing Place killing two more. Flying south L15 reached Pitsea in Essex where L15 picked up the course of the Thames, but at the same time attracted searchlights and AA gunfire. To gain height, L15 dropped the rest of their bombs, but at 9.45pm a round fired by the AA gun at Purfleet, ripped through three of her gas cells. L15 flew off but was then attacked by 2nd Lieutenant Alfred de Bathe Brandon of 19 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron, who failed to cause further damage.
By now L15 was losing height and all non-essential equipment was jettisoned. However, with her structure severely weakened and flying at just 2,000ft, her back broke and she fell into the sea about 15 miles north of Margate. One of the crew, Willy Albrecht, drowned but the rest were rescued and taken back to England as prisoners.
airwar19141918 
Interesting stuff. I’m a regular visitor to Cleethorpes and knew about the bombing of the Baptist Chapel, but I didn’t know there was a wireless station at Waltham or an anti-aircraft gun and searchlights!