Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the tread
Of the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.
Edward Thomas, Roads

Monday, January 19, 2015

19–20 January 1915: Zeppelins Bomb Great Britain for First Time


Night Attack by a Zeppelin

One hundred years ago zeppelin airships carried out the first air raid on the British mainland, hitting the Norfolk towns of King's Lynn, Great Yarmouth, and Sheringham. At least four people were killed.

At the beginning of 1915 the Kaiser sanctioned the bombing of military and industrial targets along the British coast and in the area around the Thames Estuary but not London itself. Therefore, on 19 January 1915, zeppelins L3, L4 and L6 of the Imperial German Navy, under the overall command of zeppelin commander Korvettenkapitän Peter Strasser, took off from their base at Fuhlsbüttel in Germany. L3 and L4 carried 30 hours of fuel, eight bombs, and 25 incendiary devices and were to attack military and industrial buildings on Humberside. L6, which carried Strasser, encountered mechanical problems and bad weather so had to turn back. Weather also had a bearing on the two remaining airships, who had to change their plans and eventually made landfall in Norfolk.

1 comment:

  1. Walsall town was attacked by zeppelins, marks can still be seen of the damaged today. The crews of the downed zeppelins' are buried in the German cemetery at Cannock Chase here in the UK. Photos availiable

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