Anti-aircraft home defence query

[daggers]

English Heritage has an on-line listing under 'Pastscape'. By chance I found it included the site of a WW1 heavy anti-aircraft battery at Aigburth (Liverpool) which was armed with a 12 pounder, 12 cwt [hundredweight for younger readers!] gun in 1917.

Reference is made to C.S.Dobinson, '20th century fortifications in England', Vol.1 - AA Artillery, p.280.

Has anyone come across this, or can add anything? Liverpool never had a Zeppelin raid, so far as I have heard.

Daggers

[phil@basildon]

English Heritage has an on-line listing under 'Pastscape'. By chance I found it included the site of a WW1 heavy anti-aircraft battery at Aigburth (Liverpool) which was armed with a 12 pounder, 12 cwt [hundredweight for younger readers!] gun in 1917.

Reference is made to C.S.Dobinson, '20th century fortifications in England', Vol.1 - AA Artillery, p.280.

Has anyone come across this, or can add anything? Liverpool never had a Zeppelin raid, so far as I have heard.

Daggers

The Germans did plan a Zeppelin raid on Liverpool, but none got anywhere near. I think it was weather problems and they all had to return to base. I will try to find out more details for you.

[daggers]

Phil

Thanks for that. I am trying to find an archaeologist in the city council labyrinth, as I am told they may know something.

D

[Terry_Reeves]

Daggers

Believe it or not, if the site was inside the City boundary, the WO would have had to ask the city council for use of the site if it wasn't already on military property. If this is the case there should be an entry in the council minutes book which may well give a good clue to its location.

TR

[daggers]

Terry

Thanks for that - this started out as a casual enquiry, as AA in Liverpool in WW1 seemed unlikely, but the hook always has a barb... This will probably have to wait a month or three, as there are other pots on the stove and the minutes are massive.

D

[phil@basildon]

Phil

Thanks for that. I am trying to find an archaeologist in the city council labyrinth, as I am told they may know something.

D

The attack on Liverpool was planned to take place on the night of 31st January 1916. Nine Zeppelins were scheduled to take part in the attack. Two Zeppelin comanders claimed to have bombed Liverpool but none reached the west coast. The Zeppelins encountered fog and then snow squalls over the North Sea and were driven south of their intended route. One Zeppelin reached the outskirts of Birmingham but its bombs caused little damage. This Zeppelin (LZ19) was lost with all crew over the North sea after it wandered into Dutch airspace and was shot at by the Dutch.