Fragment of First World War airship discovered

This piece of twisted metal may look fairly inconspicuous but it is allegedly part of one of the most renowned home front events of the First World War. This object was discovered in our collections at South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture during our inventory project. It is labeled with a handwritten note stating that it is from the wreckage of the first ‘zeppelin’ shot down near Potters Bar in September 1916 by William Leefe Robinson who received a Victoria Cross for his actions.

During the First World War the Germans used two types of airship, the Zeppelin and the Schütte-Lanz. The Zeppelin had a duralumin (a type of aluminum alloy) frame with a large balloon containing hydrogen gas and an outer layer of linen that covered the structure. Below were gondolas that contained the engines, propellers and a small compartment that housed the control room and crew. The Schütte-Lanz was similar to the Zeppelin but differed in that the framework was made of wood rather than metal.

By the First World War German airships could reach speeds of 85 mph and could carry up to 2 tonnes of bombs and ammunition. Their imposing structures were often appeared out of the darkness causing extreme fear. Zeppelin attacks on the home front provided no strategic military gain; their sole purpose was to cause panic and to weaken the morale of the British people. The fear was exacerbated by the failure of the Royal Flying Corps to destroy these apparent indestructible airships; the early military aircraft were no match for these gargantuan structures.

The very first zeppelin attack in the UK was on the east coast of England with Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn bombed on the 19^th January 1915. The attacks continued throughout 1915 but the most infamous occurred in Stoke Newington on 31^st May 1915 when an incendiary bomb was dropped on a house killing three year old Elsie Leggett and fatally injuring her older sister Elizabeth. From then on the British press referred to the airships as “baby killers.”

On the night of the 2^nd/early morning of the 3^rd September 1916, 19 year old Lt. William Leefe Robinson, known as Billy, was flying his BE2c 2963 on night patrol. It was reported that sixteen German airships had bombed Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Kent and one, Schütte-Lanz SL11, was heading for London. SL11 was commanded by Hauptmann Wilhelm Schramm who had been born and brought up in England. His father had worked in London but Wilhelm returned to Germany aged 15 after his father’s death.

After various sightings of airships throughout his patrol Billy finally caught up to Schramm’s SL11. He was carrying three drums of the new incendiary ammunition known as Brock and Pommeroy. He fired two drums of the ammunition along the airship which appeared to have no effect. He then flew behind the airship and fired his third and last drum between the rudders. This last attempt was successful – the hydrogen ignited and burst into flames killing Schramm and his 15 crewmen.

Thousands of Londoners had gathered to watch the unfolding drama in the skies. When the airship caught fire and plummeted to the ground there were reports of cheering and singing. The wreckage landed in a field in Cuffley, Hertfordshire. From this moment Sunday 3^rd September 1916 would be known as ‘Zepp Sunday.’

Over the next two days thousands of people travelled to the village of Cuffley to view the wreckage of the ‘zeppelin.’ The demand was so great that special trains left from London King’s Cross. People were desperate to claim pieces of the wreckage as souvenirs despite it being a criminal offence.

The fact that Billy had shot down a Schütte-Lanz and not strictly a Zeppelin went unmentioned but because so many people had viewed the wreckage it was questioned why there was a shortage of aluminum. Viscount French, Commander in Chief of British Home Forces at the time commented that Germany must be on hard times if she was unable to produce aluminium. The metal that was present was given to the Red Cross who sold pieces as souvenirs to raise funds for wounded soldiers. Items such as brooches, cufflinks and other items of jewellery were made from the SL11.

The War Office was keen to utilise Robinson’s actions for propaganda; just two days after the SL11 was shot down Billy attended a ceremony at Windsor Castle where King George V awarded him the Victoria Cross. The V.C. is the highest British military decoration awarded for gallantry in the face of the enemy. This was the first time that the award was received for actions in the UK.

Donations and prize money soon flooded in for the young pilot. It is believed that he received a sum of £4000, roughly £367,000 by today’s standards. He was treated as a celebrity and bought himself a car however he soon grew restless of his new found fame and was keen to get back to flying.

In 1917 he was posted to 48 squadron as a flight commander. Whilst leading six Bristol fighters Billy came under attack from a German squadron led by Manfred von Richthofen aka the ‘Red Baron.’ He was shot down behind enemy lines near Mericourt in northern France and was taken as a prisoner of war. He was soon identified as ‘the Hero of Cuffley’ and was often singled out for harsh treatment by his captors. Billy tried to escape several times and was usually sentenced to solitary confinement.

On December 14^th 1918 he returned to Britain but his time as a P.O.W had weakened his health. The Spanish Influenza pandemic was sweeping the world and returning soldiers were particularly susceptible to the virus. William Leefe Robinson V.C. contracted the disease and died on the 31^st December 1918 with his fiancée Joan and his sister Kitty by his side. He was just 23 years old.

The German airship attacks on Britain killed over 500 people and left more than 1000 people injured. Their impact highlighted that the skies of Britain needed a dedicated air force to protect its inhabitants and was a catalyst for the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918.

For a detailed history of William Leefe Robinson’s actions and more information about airship attacks you can visit:

http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/vc_w_l_robinson_page1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27517166

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