The First Blitz In 100 Objects

2019·40.5 MB·English

by  Ian Castle

The First Blitz
100
in
OBJECTS
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In memory of my father
Arthur Edward Castle
1930 – 2018
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The First Blitz
100
in
OBJECTS
Ian Castle
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The First Blitz in 100 Objects
This edition published in 2019 by Frontline Books,
An imprint of Pen & Sword Books Ltd.,
Yorkshire - Philadelphia
Copyright © Ian Castle, 2019
The right of Ian Castle to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
HB ISBN 978-1-52673-289-7
PB ISBN 978-1-52676-726-4
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval
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relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
CIP data records for this title are available from the British Library
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Contents
Introduction ..........................................7 27. The Wrotham Park Bone  ..................72
Acknowledgments .................................8 28. The Gateway of St Bartholomew-
the-Great – London ............................74
1. German Airship Girders ....................10 29. Hamerton’s Grocery Shop –
2. 1-pdr ‘Pom-Pom’ Gun .......................12 East Dereham ....................................76
3. 20lb Hales Bomb ...............................14 30. AA Gun Position on One Tree
4. The First Bomb on Britain ................16 Hill – London ...................................79
5. Graves of Britain’s First Air Raid 31. Agnes Robins’ Grave – Margate ........81
Victims – Great Yarmouth ..................18 32. Mobile 13-pdr Anti-Aircraft Gun.....83
6. Glass from St Mary’s Church – 33. War Memorial – Hertford ................85
Snettisham .........................................21 34. No. 68 Bus – London ........................88
7. Crested China ....................................23 35. Lincoln’s Inn Chapel – London .........90
8. Souvenir Postcard of a Raid 36. Zeppelin Incendiary Bomb (Naval) ...93
on Britain ...........................................26 37. King’s Royal Rifle Corps
9. The Southend Standard .....................28 Memorial – Dover .............................95
10. Souvenirs from the Imperial 38. Damaged Brickwork – Walsall ..........97
Bazaar – Ramsgate ............................32 39. Granite Bomb Markers –
11. 16 Alkham Road – London ...............36 Loughborough ...................................99
12. Zeppelin Bomb Markers – 40. Crown Derby China .........................102
Gravesend ..........................................38 41. The Trawler King Stephen ................104
13. The Hull Zeppelin Raid 42. The Manchester Regiment Memorial –
Photographs.......................................41 Cleethorpes............................................107
14. Reginald Warneford, VC, 43. The Wakefield Medal ........................110
Memorial – London ..........................43 44. Ranken Dart .....................................112
15. The LZ 37 Memorial – Ghent ..........46 45. Zeppelin L 15 Relics ........................114
16. Zeplo .................................................49 46. Carbonit High-Explosive Bomb –
17. Palmer’s Shipbuilding & Edinburgh ........................................116
Iron Company Plaque .......................51 47. The Bomb on Lauriston Place –
18. Air Raid Insurance ............................53 Edinburgh ........................................118
19. Zeppelin Raid Memorial – Goole .....56 48. Bombs on Danby High Moor ..........120
20. 3-inch 20 cwt Anti-Aircraft Gun – 49. A Souvenir of Zeppelin L 20 ............123
Dover .................................................58 50. Explosive and Incendiary Bullets ......125
21. Woodbridge Postcards .......................60 51. ‘Super Zeppelin’ Gondolas ................128
22. German Commemorative Medallion ....62 52. Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c ..........130
23. ‘In Memoriam’ Cards .........................64 53. Severndroog Castle – London ..........132
24. Queen Square Bomb Plaque – 54. Spähkorb or Sub-Cloud Car ............135
London ..............................................66 55. H. Scott Orr’s ‘Destruction of a
25. The Dolphin Tavern’s Clock – Zeppelin’ ...........................................137
London ..............................................68 56. The Cuffley Red Cross Souvenirs .....141
26. Farringdon Road Plaque – 57. The Church of St Mary the Virgin –
London ..............................................70 Essendon ..........................................143
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THE FIRST BLITZ IN 100 OBJECTS
58. Souvenir Matchbox Cover ................146 81. 16th Century Chest, Ironmongers’
59. Silver Watch – Little Wigborough ...151 Hall – City of London ......................205
60. Zeppelin Souvenirs – Essex ..............155 82. Iron Cross, 1st Class ..........................207
61. The Windows of St John’s Church – 83. 2nd Lt Wilfred Salmon’s ‘Wings’ .......210
Washingborough ..............................158 84. Matchbox Cover ..............................213
62. Silver ‘Zeppelin’ Cup – Hornchurch ....160 85. The Drill Hall – Chatham ................215
63. A Zeppelin Victim – Holcombe .......162 86. Cleopatra’s Needle – London ...........219
64. A Child’s Sewing Cards – Sheffield ..164 87. Pigeon N.U.R.P./17/F.16331 ............222
65. Heinrich Mathy’s Binoculars ............167 88. Sound Mirror – Dover ......................225
66. Zeppelin Cross Church of 89. The Internal Gangway of
St Mary the Virgin and All Saints – Zeppelin L 49 ...................................228
Potter’s Bar .......................................170 90. Gotha GV 906/16 – Rochford .........230
67. ‘A Pledge of Love’ .............................172 91. Gotha GV 674/16 –
68. Flt Sub-Lt Gerard Fane’s Near Canterbury ...............................232
Flying Helmet ..................................174 92. 10 Stone Buildings – London ...........234
69. Comic Postcards ...............................176 93. St Paul’s Church – London .............237
70. Stow Maries Aerodrome – 94. Gatehouse Clock –
Near Maldon ....................................178 Kew Bridge Waterworks ...................239
71. Tontine Street – Folkestone ..............181 95. The Kerley Family Grave –
72. P.u.W Bombs ....................................183 London .............................................241
73. Sopwith Pup N5182 .........................186 96. The Royal Hospital – London ..........243
74. Plaques to the Memory of 97. F.E.2b Tail Boom – Annfield Plain ..246
PC Alfred Smith ..............................188 98. Damaged Milestone – Bold Heath ...249
75. Sidney Elkin’s Collar ........................190 99. An Unexploded British Anti-Aircraft
76. Upper North Street School Memorials – Shell ..................................................252
London ...................................................192 100. Grave Markers, German
77. Souvenir Napkin – 13 June 1917 ......195 Military Cemetery –
78. Glove from the Crew of L 48 – Cannock Chase.................................254
Theberton .........................................197
79. St Peter’s Church Cemetery – Endnotes............................................257
Theberton .........................................200 Index .................................................261
80. Church of St Edmund the King &
Martyr – City of London .................203
6
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Introduction
he idea for The First Blitz in 100 Objects there is space for the more quirky items too: the
Twas first suggested to me by my cartoon-decorated animal bone dropped from a
publisher, Martin Mace of Frontline Zeppelin, a bird killed in a raid and stuffed, a
Books. It was an interesting proposition and collar that saved a man’s life and even a board
not one I  had considered before. The first game based on the Zeppelin raids, available
question was whether I thought there would while raids still threatened Britain. By using
be enough ‘objects’ to fulfil the title. Over the ‘objects’ such as these it has been possible to
years I  have spent researching and writing explore the impact the First Blitz had on the
about the German First World War air raids on British public and the combatants of both sides.
Britain, I have come across references to many Rather than group the ‘objects’ together
interesting reminders of this First Blitz, this under categories, I  decided to let them run
Forgotten Blitz – but were there enough to fill a chronologically so the reader can easily follow
book? I started to compile a list of objects that the course of the war through the story each
immediately came to mind and my publisher did ‘object’ tells. It is a fascinating story and I hope
likewise. It looked promising. I then discussed the varied selection of ‘objects’ reveal many
the idea with others and more suggestions and lesser-known aspects of the First Blitz to a much
ideas came forward. I soon discovered that 100 wider audience.
Objects would not be a problem, the problem I completed this project in 2018 at the end of a
would be what to leave out! four-year period of centenary commemorations.
The next question I had to address was what During that time many previously neglected
actually defined an ‘object’ for the purposes of memorials up and down the country have
this project. To reflect on the richness of the received welcome attention, and with them new
offerings, I decided on an open interpretation. plaques provide a proud source of remembrance.
I  have included locations where significant The ‘objects’ included in this book also show
incidents occurred, graves and plaques that tell the great variety of ways in which the British
of heroic sacrifice within the overall story of the people chose to remember the impact those
First Blitz, and, of course, some of the weapons early air raids had on the nation. The previously
that played a role in the war. The impact of unthinkable horror had happened – the aerial
individual actions on the Home Front also bombing of civilians in their homes. Yet rather
provided me with ‘objects’, as did the strength than be cowed by their experience, the British
demonstrated by those whose businesses people in general displayed a remarkable
suffered from bombing but who carried on in courage and resilience in the face of adversity
the face of adversity. There are the relics from that pre-dated by a quarter of a century the
crashed airships and the thriving souvenir trade acknowledged ‘Blitz spirit’ of the Second World
that grew as a result. Some ‘objects’ reflect the War. I hope this book goes some way to reflect
humour the British people displayed during that spirit.
this dark period in the nation’s history, and Ian Castle, December 2018
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Acknowledgments
hen embarking on a project of Club. John Rochester at the Royal Hospital,
Wthis nature it is impossible to Chelsea, gave me access to their archives and Sue
make a success of it without the Wardle of Emmanuel Holcombe School took
help of many people. I have been amazed by the photos of the school’s unique First Blitz relic
response I received from people up and down and others photos in the village. Peter Daniel
the country who I contacted out of the blue opened the door to Clarendon College, Ballarat,
but who wholeheartedly embraced the project where Simone Andrews was most helpful, and
and enabled me to gain access to objects and Dr Hugh Hunt put me in contact with his cousin
items that might otherwise have eluded me. Antony Anderson, who was able to help with a
A number of museums have been extremely family photograph. Email communications with
helpful and I  would like to thank Nikki Marc Carlson at the University of Tulsa proved
Braunton at the Museum of London, Sheila fruitful and I would like to thank James Pasby at
Moss King at The Pennoyer Centre, Jacqueline the North East War Memorials Project as well
Smith from the Royal Crown Derby Museum, as Chris Laidler and Stephen Walker from the
Chris Langdon at the Southend Museum, John Goole First World War Research Group. Both
Chapman at Leiston’s Long Shop Museum, groups do sterling work and provided me with
Sue Walker White at Dereham’s Bishop photographs that I have used, as did Gerry Ryder
Bonner’s Cottage Museum and Bob Goodrick of the Rainhill Civic Society Heritage Group,
at Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. Clara Charley Gosse of The Aero Conservancy and
Morgan at Museums Sheffield, Trevor Neale Andy Tregenza and Steve Littlejohn of Arundel
from Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome Militaria.
and Bryce Caller from the London Museum Other individuals I would like to express my
of Water and Steam also helped greatly by thanks to are James Brazier, Mick Davis, Lynne
giving permission to reproduce photographs Dyer, Neil Gordon-Lee, Julian Evan-Hart, Les
from their collections, while Michael Kelly Haigh, Phil Jarrett, Kevin Kelly, Chris Kolonko,
at the Chatham Drill Hall Library proved an Rob Langham, Tom Marshall, Robert Mitchell,
enthusiastic guide. Bev Parker, Thorsten Pietsch, Paul Reed, Kevin
I am also grateful for the help I have received Ryan, Marton Szgeti and Moritz Adolf Trappe,
from a number of individuals. Dr Hamish who all provided images for inclusion in this
McLaren, Thomas Genth and Geoffrey Wyncoll book. And special thanks go to my long-time
all helped with family items. A chance meeting friend Mark Lawley, who stopped off to take
with Charles Dace gained me access to the photos for me while cycling from John o’Groats
amazing relic of the First Blitz at Wrotham to Land’s End!
Park, and Paul Bessemer, a liveryman of the I am indebted also to my good friend David
Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, smoothed Marks, whose unparalleled collection I  have
my path to see their relic of a German raid, as relied heavily on, also to Steve Smith whose
did Neil Wells at the Rochford Hundred Golf enthusiasm for the project saw him trekking
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Acknowledgments
around Norfolk on my behalf, to Historic Blitz. Souvenirs of this type, acquired by both
Military Press for access to their collection of civilians and service personnel alike, were highly
images and to Martin Mace, my publisher for his sought after at the time, and still are today.
unbounded enthusiasm for the project. Those in my own collection convinced me to
Finally, I  would like to express my great undertake this project. Except where otherwise
gratitude to Ian Campbell in Australia. We credited, photographs in the book are from this
have never met but Ian’s support, advice and collection.
sharp eye during the writing process are valued I am extremely grateful to all those who have
greatly – and he has a family connection with happily and enthusiastically contributed to this
the subject. His great uncle, who served in the work, it would never have been the book it is now
Royal Navy, visited the wreck of Zeppelin L 15 without their help.
in 1916 and obtained some souvenirs of this Ian Castle
dramatic incident in the history of the First www.IanCastleZeppelin.co.uk
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