Zeppelin Raids on Croydon - 1915 and 1916

Aircraft technology was in its infancy at the outbreak of the First World War, but Germany had a major advantage in its airships, which had been invented by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in 1900. The first place to be bombed by a Zeppelin raid was Antwerp in 1914, and by 1915 the airships were carrying out raids to targets in eastern England and east and south London.

Defences against such attacks were almost non-existent, and the British population was deeply shocked, and very angry that the enemy could apparently strike directly at people and property in Britain, and return home with impunity. It is difficult for us now, after the Second World War experience, to realise how horrified people were by this new development in warfare.

Croydon's turn came on the night of 13th October 1915 when Zeppelin L14, under Commander Böcker, scattered bombs across the town, causing a fair amount of damage to Edridge Road, Beech House Road, Oval Road (where the school was hit), Chatsworth Road, Morland Road and Stretton Road. Nine people were killed and fifteen injured. It is unlikely that Croydon was chosen as the target for the raid - it appears that the Zeppelin was on its way to London, but got a little lost.

A public meeting was held a few days later, which called a policy of systematic reprisals against Germany and for a greater recognition of the part that aircraft and airships could be playing in the War, especially in the defence of Britain.

Nearly a year later, on 23rd September 1916, another major raid took place, and this time Commander Mathy's L31 airship, while passing over Purley, dropped four 128lb test bombs, before moving on to bomb Mitcham, Streatham, Brixton, Kennington and Leyton. They exploded in a straight line across Downscourt Road and Hall Way - three in peoples' gardens and one on the road. Structural damage was therefore relatively slight but one eighteen-year old woman was injured and an elderly lady was treated for shock.

By this time, however, defences against air attack had been improved significantly. A network of observer posts had been established (including the water tower at Park Hill, and sightings of approaching Zeppelins were telephoned to a central command point. More searchlights had been deployed (including some on open-top trams). Better still for public morale, some Zeppelins had been brought down by bullets from British aeroplanes and it seemed as if an effective defence against this new menace had been found.

The Croydon Times of 4th October 1916 reported that crowds in Croydon watching as Mathy's L31 Zeppelin was brought down over London. The headlines were understandably exultant:

ANOTHER THRILL FOR CROYDON -
A SECOND ZEPPELIN SEEN IN FLAMES -
17 HUNS BURNED ALIVE -
SPECTATORS' CHEERS -

Photos

• Wrecked house in Edridge Road (Class number: Events 1915)
• Unexploded incendiary bomb from the October 1915 raid (Class number: Events 1915)

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Wednesday, 27 August, 2008

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