Gotha Bombers over Rochdale

[G.Driver 10thLF]

Hi Pals

Ive just discovered a statement in a book which states that during April 1918 enemy aircraft passed over Rochdale. This is a quite accurate report.

Was it just the Gothas of England squad or were there other german aerial operations during this time. I didnt think they got this far north.

is there any way to confirm this and if there is do we know which planes and their objectives?

- Graham

[Dolphin]

Graham

The most likely candidate seems to be the German Navy Zeppelin L61, under Kapitänleutnant Herbert Ehrlich, which bombed Wigan (thinking that the city was Liverpool) on the night of 12/13 April 1918. Fifteen bombs were dropped, killing 7 and injuring 12, plus another 4 civilians injured near Aspull.

Cheers

Gareth

[G.Driver 10thLF]

Graham

The most likely candidate seems to be the German Navy Zeppelin L61, under Kapitänleutnant Herbert Ehrlich, which bombed Wigan (thinking that the city was Liverpool) on the night of 12/13 April 1918. Fifteen bombs were dropped, killing 7 and inuring 12, plus another 4 civilians injured near Aspull.

Cheers

Gareth

That seems to be the most likey outcome. the articale says that the "enemy aircraft" that passed over rochdale happened during Rochdale's Tank Week

Monday 8th April - Saturday 13th April.

thanks alot Dolphin, any more infomation of this mission and crew? any pics or reccomended reading?

Oh and does the 15 include the undetonated one they apprently found last year?

- Graham

[Dolphin]

Graham

There's not much about the specific raid in these - it was just one of many that are covered - but you could have a look at:

The Air Defence of Britain 1914-1918 by Cheesman & Cole; ISBN 0 370 30538 8

Zeppelin! by Ray Rimmel; ISBN 0 85177 239 0

The Zeppelin in Combat by Douglas Robinson; ISBN 0 85429 130 X

German Air Raids on Britain 1914-1918 by Joseph Morris; ISBN 1 897632 16 9.

There's a page or so about L61's exploits in all of them.

Cheers

Gareth

[ZeppRaider]

That seems to be the most likey outcome. the articale says that the "enemy aircraft" that passed over rochdale happened during Rochdale's Tank Week

Monday 8th April - Saturday 13th April.

thanks alot Dolphin, any more infomation of this mission and crew? any pics or reccomended reading?

Oh and does the 15 include the undetonated one they apprently found last year?

- Graham

Hi Graham

The publication you need is called "Zeppelins over Lancashire" : Story of the Air Raids on the County of Lancashire in 1916 and 1918 by Peter J C Smith (ISBN: 1852160667). It's an excellent 36 page booklet published back in 1991 for the princely sum of £2.50. Plenty of pictures of the Wigan raid and a map. You should be able to pick up a copy via AbeBooks.com.

The 'Baby Killers' German Air Raids on Britain in the First World War by Thomas Fegan (ISBN 0-85052-893-3) should also be added to Gareth's list. The first bomb released by L61 that night landed at Bold (on the Warrington to Prescott road), which makes it the most westerly bomb dropped by the Germans in the course of WW1 (according to Fegan).

Kind regards

David

[IanL1962]

Hi Graham

The publication you need is called "Zeppelins over Lancashire" : Story of the Air Raids on the County of Lancashire in 1916 and 1918 by Peter J C Smith (ISBN: 1852160667). It's an excellent 36 page booklet published back in 1991 for the princely sum of £2.50. Plenty of pictures of the Wigan raid and a map. You should be able to pick up a copy via AbeBooks.com.

The 'Baby Killers' German Air Raids on Britain in the First World War by Thomas Fegan (ISBN 0-85052-893-3) should also be added to Gareth's list. The first bomb released by L61 that night landed at Bold (on the Warrington to Prescott road), which makes it the most westerly bomb dropped by the Germans in the course of WW1 (according to Fegan).

Kind regards

David

I grew up in Wigan and as a child remember that a certain crater in a farmer's field was reputed to have been made by a bomb dropped from a Zeppelin. The field is in the New Springs area (just outside Aspull) and is next to the road bridge over the Leeds/Liverpool canal.

I'd always assumed that the Zeppelin raid was a myth - until now! Whether this particular crater can be atributed to a bomb is another matter!

Ian

Edit if the link works...close the sponsored links if displayed and the crater(s) are top, left of centre. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sour...mp;t=h&z=17

[nicko576]

Ian.

The crater is still visible today.

There are a number of posts on this subject. Type in 'Bombing of Wigan' in the search box.

Nick

[Peridot]

The book Zeppelins over Lancashire used to be available in the History Shop in Wigan, which was the old reference library and which has recently I think re-opened after a long modernisation. It should still be there. My grandmother used to speak of a raid with a bomb being dropped not far from Penketh near Warrington, which presumably was the Bold one and also spoke of seeing a Zeppelin pass over Penketh. This may have jettisoned the bomb and was following the River Mersey or circling to head towards Wigan. Sounds feasible-does anyone know?

Peridot

[John_Hartley]

The most likely candidate seems to be the German Navy Zeppelin L61,

I think I'm with Gareth.

IWM (North) had a mini-exhibition on the bombing of Lancashire a couple of years back. From memory, the Zep. dropped a couple of bombs around Swinton before moving on to Wigan. I'd assume it passed near Rochdale flying to or from its target.

[nicko576]

The bomb dropped on Penketh/Bold was before it reached Wigan. A number of bombs were dropped on Wigan that night by L61.

All mainly in the Ince/ New Springs area, I am sure a house was destroyed in Hardybutts, it is reckoned it mistook the lights of the foundry's etc as Sheffield. It then went onto Bolton to drop a few more there, then it returned home most likely passing over Rochdale.

Nick

[Peridot]

Yes, that figures, and Penketh, Sankey and Bold were (and are) basically adjacent Parishes. I suppose it's quite feasible the Zepp could have been seen from Penketh given their size.

Peridot