Vehicle From 1900

Zeppelin airships

Invented by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in 1900. London was first targeted with airships in May 1915 and initially found defence very difficult. Searchlights and incendiary ammunition helped to defeat the Zeppelins and the last raid was in August 1918. Londonist has a great post about the Zeppelin raids over London, with a map! And Flickering Lamps has a good post on airships over London in war and peace.

But to get a really good idea of how they were used (the bombs, the water ballast, the observer basket) you have to see the 1930 film Hell's Angels. Forget the plot and the acting, just watch the stunning aerial scenes. Howard Hughes produced it so money was no object.

2018: Londonist have a post about the first Zeppelin raid on London, 31 May 1915, with maps showing the damage sites.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Zeppelin airships

Commemorated ati

Camberwell WW1 victims - Chumleigh Gardens

This memorial commemorates all 22 Camberwell citizens killed in WW1. We don't...

First Zeppelin bomb of WW1, correct - 1

First bomb of World War One, dropped on London by Zeppelin LZ 38 fell on this...

First Zeppelin bomb of WW1, correct - 2

First bomb of World War One, to be dropped on London by Zeppelin LZ38, fell o...

First Zeppelin bomb of WW1 - incorrect

This plaque was, according to the Council, a mistake and was removed by Hackney.

Zeppelin

We are familiar with the "pensioner crosses road" syndrome in local newspaper...

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Other Subjects

J. T. Hardcastle

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1

1 memorial

F. J. Abery

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2

1 memorial

Archie Wright

Resident of the West Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1

1 memorial

Lieutenant John Henry Stephen Dimmer, VC

John (Jack) John Henry Stephen Dimmer was born at 37 Gloster Street, South Lambeth. Following action at Klein Zillebeke, Belgium, Dimmer learned of his VC reading a British newspaper whilst recover...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1

2 memorials

R. N. Greatorex

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1

1 memorial