1 April 1916 – Zeppelin downed

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.

1 February 1916 – Zeppelins return

Following the bombings on 23 January, the German Naval Air Service carried out a major airship raid overnight. Nine Zeppelins took part, but bad weather over the North Sea and much fog and mist over Britain meant that all found it extremely difficult to plot their positions, and the main target Liverpool was missed altogether.

The first Zeppelins to arrive were L21 and L13 which crossed the coast north of Mundesley, Norfolk at 4.50pm. L21 then reached Nottingham and Derby (thinking it to be Manchester) then turned towards Wolverhampton, which was mistaken for Liverpool. Bombs were dropped on Tipton at about 8.00pm. Three bombs fell on Waterloo Street (killing one) and Union Street (13 killed and 10 injured). Over Lower Bradley, near Bilston, five bombs landed near the canal killing one and mortally injuring another. A further three fell on a Bloomfield brickworks but two failed to ignite. Wednesbury was attacked at about 8.15pm. In King Street, three houses were destroyed and others damaged; killing 14 people. In the same road another person was killed at the Crown Tube Works. And a bomb at the Mesty Croft Goods Yard killed one person and damaged railway trucks. At about 8.25pm, L21 appeared over Walsall and dropped 11 bombs damaging the Congregational Church in Wednesbury Road – killing Thomas Merrylees and in Bradford Place injuring a man in the Science and Art Institute and killing two men in the street. Shrapnel from the bomb also mortally wounded Mary Slater, mayoress of Walsall whio was passing by in a tram. L21 then set course back to the coast, but dropped six final incendiary bombs on the Islip furnaces at Thrapston in Northamptonshire at about 9.15pm. All six fell harmlessly in fields. L21 passed out over the coast south of Lowestoft at about 11.35pm.

L13 separated from L21 near Foulsham, Norfolk and then crossed Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and at about 8.15pm south of Stoke-on-Trent dropped six bombs on Fenton Colliery, causing only minor damage. After circling around Stoke, L13 then went East and around 11.00pm appeared over Scunthorpe. L13 then attempted to bomb the Frodingham Iron and Steel Works which was lit up but missed and instead hit the nearby Redbourne Iron Works killing two men. Four workmen’s houses in Scunthorpe were demolished, killing a man and injuring seven people. 15 minutes later L13 was out at sea. .

L15 arrived at around 5.50pm, in the same area as the previous raiders and then flew on westwards and bombed Burton-on-Trent at about 8.45pm, attracted by fires caused by incendiary bombs dropped by L20. It’s ubnclear exactly which Zeppilin dropped which bombs, difficult to determine which Zeppelin dropped which bombs but the engine house at Bass’s Brewery, the sawmill at Allsopp’s Brewery and the malthouse at Worthington’s Brewery were all hit and damaged. Charrington’s and Robinson’s Breweries were also hit, but without causing damage. The bombs wrecked nine houses and damaged others killing five. At the Christ Church Mission Room a bomb exploded outside, killing six. L15 then headed home and out to sea at Corton at 12.35am.

L16, came inland near Hunstanton, Norfolk, at about 6.10pm. As the craft was suffering form engine problems during her crossing the Captain attacked nearby targets, dropping bombs on Swaffham at 6.20pm – causing no damage, 18 bombs near Mildenhall, which and 22 on Isleham Fen. The only casualties were 16 chickens. L16 then headed east, and headed out to sea near Lowestoft at 9.05pm.

Zeppelin L14 appeared at 6.15pm shortly after L16. At 7.00pm she reached Wisbech and dropped a single bomb and then went north-west dropping a bomb on Knipton at about 8.00pm. L14 reached Shrewsbury at 10.05pmbut unable to locate a target L14 turned east where, two bombs were dropped on a furnace at Ashby Woulds. L14 then dropped four HE bombs on Overseal, Derbyshire at about midnight, and shortly after on Swadlincote where the blast broke some windows. Ten minutes later, L14 reached Derby and dropped 25 bombs. Nine fell on the Midland Railway works damaging the sheds and killing William Bancroft, James Hardy and Harry Hithersay, and injuring two others. Three bombs hit the Metalite Lamp Works, wrecking the factory but injuring no-one. The remaining bombs only caused minor damage. A retired headmistress, Sarah Constantine, also died of heart failure caused by the raid. L14 headed east and went out to sea at about 2.10am.

Zeppelin L19 cam inland at 6.20pm near Sheringham, Norfolk suffering from serious engine problems. Passing Stamford at 8.10pm L19 then circled back before flying on towards Loughborough. From Loughborough L19 saw the fires in Burton and dropped two bombs at about 9.45pm. L169 then went to the west of Birmingham before passing Stourbridge, Kidderminster and Bromsgrove. L16 now went North and dropped a bomb over Wednesbury, damaging the Monway Works of the Patent Shaft & Axletree Company. L19 now flew south east to Dudley dropping 5 bombs on the way without any damage. Arriving over Dudley at 12.15am, L19 dropped 17 bombs causing only minor damage. Shortly after this, 11 bombs were dropped on Tipton, wrecking the Bush Inn amongst other buildings but causing no causalities. Finally L19 headed for Walsall dropping three bombs killing a horse, four pigs and about a hundred chickens. L19 then turned for home.

L17 came inland about 6.30pm also at Sherringham. Moments later a searchlight at RNAS Holt broke through the cloud and illuminated L17. In response, L17 dropped ten bombs hoping to extinguish the light – but without success. L17 then dropped bombs on Bayfield Lodge, about 800 yards from RNAS Holt, Bayfield Hall, and Letheringsett, south of Bayfield Hall without any serious damage. L17 went out to sea south of Great Yarmouth 20 minutes later.

L11 and L20, arrived over the Wash together, parting near Sutton Bridge at about 7.10pm. L11 headed north west, passing Lincoln and south of Sheffield before reaching the Peak District between Sheffield and Macclesfield. Thick fog made it impossible to navigate and L11 returned to base without dropping any bombs.

L20 headed west and as she approached Stamford dropping a bomb and then continued to Loughborough and dropped four HE bombs Extensive damage was caused in the town killing 10 and injuring 12. L20 then headed north, dropping bombs on Kimberley, Awsworth and Trowell, and the Stanton Ironworks at Hallam Field where two men were killed. Finally L20 reached Burton and dropped 12 bombs at 8.45pm – which later attracted the other raiders. L.20 then headed out to sea near Cromer at 11.52pm.

13 October 1915 – London’s burning

The German Navy launched the biggest air raid of the war against London tonight with L.13, L.14, L.15, L.16 and L.11 crossing the channel. The first four came inland over Norfolk more or less together with L.11 some distance behind.

The raiders met improved gunnery defences in the capital following the recent appointment of Admiral Sir Percy Scott as London’s artillery commander – but this made little difference.

Heinrich Mathy in L13 came inland at about 6.15pm and moved inland to Hatfield by 9pm, when a 13-pdr gun at Birchwood Farm nearby opened fire. In reply, L13 dropped four high explosive bombs resulting in minor damage. She passed Guildford at 10.10 heading east, but five minutes later, as she approached Chilworth, the site of a gunpowder factory, a 1-pdr pom-pom opened fire. L13 turned back towards Guildford and dropped 12 HE bombs damaging railway tracks, and a number of properties in Guildown Road and Chestnut Avenue. Moving eastwards away from Guildford, L13 passed the Chilworth factory, and came perilously close to colliding with L14 between Bromley and Bickley at about 11.30pm. At 11.45pm, guns at Blackheath and Honor Oak opened fire as L13 approached Woolwich. She dropped three HE and 14 incendiary bombs on the artillery barracks, injuring four men, killing a horse and injuring nine others in a stable. Another nine incendiaries landed in the town. L.13 dropped one HE and five incendiary bombs on the Arsenal injuring nine men. L13 then headed out to sea.

Zeppelin L.14, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Alois Böcker, came inland near Bacton, Norfolk, around 6.30pm. At about 9.15pm, she reached the army camp at Otterpool, and dropped four HE bombs killing 15 and injuring seven. Böcker turned north, dropping seven incendiary bombs at Frant at 10.30pm, without damage. Ten minutes later, over Tunbridge Wells, Böcker released three HE bombs, smashing a number of windows. L14 approached East Croydon and at 11.20pm commenced dropping 17 HE bombs between Edridge Road and Howard Road. They killed three brothers in Beech House Road, three died in Oval Road, and three in Stretton Road. Fifteen others were injured. L.14 almost collided with L.13 between Bromley and Bickley at about 11.30pm. L14 finally went out to sea north of Aldeburgh at about 1.45am.

Oberleutnant zur See Werner Peterson brought L16 inland near Bacton at about 6.40pm. Peterson dropped a high explosive bomb at Banningham, which caused no damage. L.16 then followed a slightly erratic course southwards. Near Chelmsford, L16 came under fire from a maxim gun and a 1-pdr pom-pom convinced. This convinced Peterson to turn northwards away from London. Steering north, he reached Hertford at about 10.00pm dropping 14 HE and 30 incendiaries. The incendiaries landed in four clusters: seven in or near Hartham recreation ground, 12 around the Old Cross area, six in a garden on North Road and the last four in other gardens on North Road. The first nine HE bombs landed, well spread, between the Folly and North Road. Total casualties in the town amounted to nine killed and 15 injured. In addition, ten buildings suffered considerable damage and 141 lesser damage. Peterson then set course for home.

L15 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Joachim Breithaupt came inland near Bacton at about 6.25pm. At 8.40pm at Broxbourne, a 13-pdr mobile anti-aircraft gun positioned in Church Fields opened fire with nine rounds. In response, L15 dropped four high-explosive (HE) bombs, one failed to detonate but the other three landed in close proximity to the gun. The blast blew the gunners off their feet and wrecked a wooden shed as well as a lorry and a car belonging to the detachment.

At around 9.30pm L15 appeared over Westminster and was engaged by the Green Park anti-aircraft gun. Breithaupt began dropping bombs in Covent Garden. One landed in the road at the corner of Wellington and Exeter Streets killing 17 and injuring 21. Other bombs killed three people in Aldwych and injured 15. One bomb smashed the 17th century stained-glass window of Lincoln’s Inn Chapel. Another bomb exploded in Chancery Lane, damaging the roadway, while incendiary bombs caused damage around Hatton Garden and Farringdon Road. Two bombs in Finsbury Pavement killed four and injured ten. In Aldgate, a bomb hit a hotel in the Minories and damaged nearby buildings, killing one and injuring eight. Ten minutes after the first bomb, L.15 released her final four London bombs; two fell close to the Royal Mint and two just north of the Western Docks, but damage was limited to a number of tenement houses, while six people were injured. Then L.15 climbed higher to avoid the increasing gunfire she encountered and took a northerly course out of London. L.15 crossed the coast near Aldeburgh at about 11.55pm.

L11 was the last of the raiders to come inland, arriving over the coast near Bacton at about 8.25pm. At 8.45pm L.11 dropped nine HE bombs on Coltishall, two of which failed to explode. The other seven detonated in open fields between Coltishall and Great Hautbois, not far from Coltishall station. The only recorded damage was ‘a tin shed partly blown down and a few panes of glass broken’. L.11 also dropped seven incendiary bombs close by which landed near a group of three cottages, but buckets of water quickly applied served to extinguish them. Over Horstead, L.11 dropped four more HE and three incendiary bombs, which all fell in open fields resulting in just seven broken panes of glass. L11 then continued reaching Norwich at about 9.00pm, a Royal Horse Artillery 15-pdr at Mousehold Heath fired two rounds, convincing L11 to turn east and head towards the coast. She went out to sea near Great Yarmouth at about 9.15pm.

Despite fog that night, the RFC got five aircraft up, however, only one saw a Zeppelin briefly before losing it in cloud. Three of the pilots damaged their aircraft when attempting to land at fog-bound airfields.