Zeppelin raid on Sunderland

[ss002d6252]

Does anyone have any further information regarding the people killed ?

1/2 Apr 1916 Sat/Sun.

The L11 crossed the coast at Seaham at 11.00 p.m. and dropped

bombs on Eppleton Colliery, Hetton Downs, Philadelphia and

Sunderland. The 21 bombs at Sunderland caused severe damage to

shops and houses and killed 22 people, seriously injured 25 and

slightly injured 100. L11 then headed south just off the coast

and dropped further bombs on Port Clarence, on Middlesborough,

where 2 men were injured, and on Brotton before heading out to

sea at 12.30 a.m.

[nils d]

Does anyone have any further information regarding the people killed ?

from memory the bomb on Sunderland hit a tram killing several passengers

[Tunsilk]

A number of houses were demolished and tram (fleet no 10) at the Wheatsheaf Depot was destroyed. The "Rules" stated that staff had to stay with the tram during an air raid. A Conductress Margaret Ann Holmes got a bad injury to a leg and an Inspector was killed. Miss Holmes returned to work in the Tramway Offices after months in hospital. She retired in 1950 and died 1986 aged 91.

The zeppelin crew seem to have had a good knowledge of the area. They went for collieries,the colliery power station at Philadephia these which are almost in a straight line as the crow (or airship) flies. The tram depot was very close to Wearmouth Colliey. Ofcourse there were also many shipyard targets equally close. Any bomb dropped would have hit something important.

There is a book "Sunderland Tramways to Busways" by M Morrison Published by Black Cat Publications 2001 ISBN 1-899560-55-6 it contains is a picture of the Tram and Miss Holmes