Guest Simon Bull Posted 30 March , 2006 Share Posted 30 March , 2006 I know that the first Zeppelin was the one shot down by Leefe Robinson VC at Cuffley. I know that not very long afterwards another Zeppelin was shot down at Potters Bar. Was the one shot down at Potters Bar the second one to be shot down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 30 March , 2006 Share Posted 30 March , 2006 Simon In brief, the answer is "No". 2Lt W Leefe Robinson, of No 39 Sqn RFC, flying BE 2c 2092 or 2693, shot down German Army Schütte-Lanz airship SL11 on 3 September 1916. On 24 September, 2Lt F Sowrey of No 39 Sqn, flying BE 2c 4112, shot down German Navy Zeppelin airship L32 over Great Burstead. On the same night, L33 crashed at Little Wigborough. On 2 October, 2Lt W J Tempest, of No 39 Sqn RFC, flying BE 4577, shot down German Navy Zeppelin airship L31 over Potters Bar. I hope this helps. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted 31 March , 2006 Share Posted 31 March , 2006 Have the diary of a AIF soldier who was on leave in the UK when the Zepplin was shot down over Potters Bar. Sounded like the crash site was quite a tourist attraction as they had trouble getting a ride out there from London to go and see it. Regards Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 31 March , 2006 Share Posted 31 March , 2006 On the 31 march 1916 a Zeppelin was shot down over london, by the Royal Artillery. A crew at Depford claimed the kill and a financial reward for doing so. However several other batteries also claimed it so the money was spent on gold medals for the crews. So if this the Potters bar Zeppelin it was earlier than those posted by others with the proviso that it was by ground fire. The medal is listed in the Medal yearbook. I also had an in law who was a right basta*d whose father was one of those who claimed and was awarded the medal. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 31 March , 2006 Share Posted 31 March , 2006 Andrew The wreckage of L31 was certainly an attraction for spectators and souvenir hunters for several days after the event. Newspapers gave guidance on how to get to the site, and thousands turned out, including the band of the French Garde Republicane, who were on a concert tour of the UK at the time. There's now a Tempest Avenue (after 2Lt Wulstan Tempest, who shot down the airship) in Potters Bar; the crash site is between Nos 9 and 11. I wonder if a locally-based Pal might be able to take a photograph? Regards Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 31 March , 2006 Share Posted 31 March , 2006 Andrew The wreckage of L31 was certainly an attraction for spectators and souvenir hunters for several days after the event. Newspapers gave guidance on how to get to the site, and thousands turned out, including the band of the French Garde Republicane, who were on a concert tour of the UK at the time. There's now a Tempest Avenue (after 2Lt Wulstan Tempest, who shot down the airship) in Potters Bar; the crash site is between Nos 9 and 11. I wonder if a locally-based Pal might be able to take a photograph? Regards Gareth There's an article based on my own visit, with details and a photograph of the crash-site as it looks today if you click here. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 31 March , 2006 Share Posted 31 March , 2006 Tom Thank you very much for the link. Best wishes Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Simon Bull Posted 31 March , 2006 Share Posted 31 March , 2006 Thanks for the information Pals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boreenatra Posted 31 March , 2006 Share Posted 31 March , 2006 Robinson and Sowrey in a different mode of transport. The official announcement of the Secretary of State for War, which appeared in the Gazette for the 5th September 1916 states "His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned officer Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson Worcester Regiment and R.F.C. for most conspicuous bravery. He attacked an enemy airship under circumstances of great difficulty and danger, and sent it crashing to the ground as a flaming wreck. He had been in the air for more than two hours and had previously attacked another airship during his flight" So this bears out what Gareth has said many times before about the V.C. being awarded for the shooting down of an airship rather than a Zeppelin. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 31 March , 2006 Share Posted 31 March , 2006 On the 31 march 1916 a Zeppelin was shot down over London, by the Royal Artillery. Gareth Gareth The Zeppelin shot down on 31 March 1916 was the German Navy airship L15, which received a direct hit from a gun at Purfleet at 2145, which damaged two gas cells. The airship gradually lost height, despite the crew throwing overboard everything they could in an effort to make their craft lighter. The airship eventually came down in the sea 15 miles north of Margate just after 2300. One crew member drowned, while the others were rescued by a British destroyer. Regards Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted 3 April , 2006 Share Posted 3 April , 2006 Thanks Gareth & Tom. Very interesting info on Potters Bar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnboro Flyer Posted 4 April , 2006 Share Posted 4 April , 2006 My Father was 16 at the time of the Cuffley incident...........he lived in the Stanmore area of North London. I recall him telling me that he cycled over to the crash site, and recovered a small piece of the structure. I had that piece for many years, until my wife(at the time) threw it out without consulting me!!!dam. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosemary Clarke Posted 11 April , 2006 Share Posted 11 April , 2006 I would recommend The Airship VC - Raymond Laurence Rimell's biography of William Leefe Robinson. Very sadly, tragedy followed heroism for Leefe Robinson - do read. Rosemary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tombowcock Posted 11 April , 2006 Share Posted 11 April , 2006 Gareth The Zeppelin shot down on 31 March 1916 was the German Navy airship L15, which received a direct hit from a gun at Purfleet at 2145, which damaged two gas cells. The airship gradually lost height, despite the crew throwing overboard everything they could in an effort to make their craft lighter. The airship eventually came down in the sea 15 miles north of Margate just after 2300. One crew member drowned, while the others were rescued by a British destroyer. Regards Gareth My wifes grandfather Gunner Stanley Rolling was part of this action with 2 Coy Cornwall RGA. As it was impossible to decide who had provided the killer blow the then Lord Mayor of London Sir Charles Wakefield had a medal struck in 9ct Gold and presented to the men. About 200 in total I believe though I have seen no definitive list anywhere...not even in Sir Charles' personal archive. The medal was engraved with the recipients name. It was classed as a civillian award so not part of normal army dress. They still come up for auction from time to time. Cheers James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 28 April , 2006 Share Posted 28 April , 2006 Fron Cosford RAF Museum, an RFC bage made from a piece of L31 shot down over Potter's Bar (you can just make out the inscription saying Potters Bar Zep) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 28 April , 2006 Share Posted 28 April , 2006 A picture they had of Leefe Robinson and the Schutte Lanz Airship LII as wreckage. (please forgive the reflections It's hard to get a good picture when everything is behind glass) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 28 April , 2006 Share Posted 28 April , 2006 And......... a photograph of Warneford VC framed on the tip of the plane he shot his Zeppelin down in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinne mills Posted 11 October , 2006 Share Posted 11 October , 2006 Hi Were Sowrey and Robinson stationed at Hornchurch? This postcard reads billetted in Hornchurch on the reverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladon Posted 11 October , 2006 Share Posted 11 October , 2006 Hi Were Sowrey and Robinson stationed at Hornchurch? This postcard reads billetted in Hornchurch on the reverse Robinson, Sowery & Tempest were all in the 39th Home Defence Squadron based at Suttons Farm (later RAF Hornchurch). Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinne mills Posted 11 October , 2006 Share Posted 11 October , 2006 Thank you Ladon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowNslow Posted 11 October , 2006 Share Posted 11 October , 2006 For those in the UK who may be interested. There's a forthcoming Channel 5 production on the history of the Victoria Cross, which will feature the story of Leefe Robinson. The second in the series, the Leefe-Robinson episode will be broadcast at 9pm on Channel 5, on Sunday 19th November. For a sneak 'behind the scenes' on the filming, check out the news section of www.biggles-biplane.com. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpaige Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 It is seldom known but the first Zeppelin downed was by Reggie Warneford of the RNAS who on June 7th 1915 shot down L37 over Ghent. He used six 20 pound incendiary bombs which he dropped on top of the Zeppelin. There was one survivor, the helmsman who had miraculous escape. Warneford was awarded the VC. He lived only 10 more days as he was killed in a flying accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A.Savery Posted 25 November , 2006 Share Posted 25 November , 2006 Does anyone know of areas or streets hit by the zeppelins in London? More specifically I am reffering to information in my grandfather's letters of 1915, where he writes of there being damage in The Strand. Also his sisters reported having had their kitchen ceilings falling in due to the blast which may have been in the Marylebone area. Was there ever a list of dates compiled with the attacked areas and damaged buildings in London? I'd be very interested if anyone can add any more to this Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john w. Posted 3 February , 2007 Share Posted 3 February , 2007 Saw the Timewatch programme last night on Zepplins/First Blitz So just been into Great Burstead to locate the actual crash site of L32 shot down by Sowery. I read that the 22 crew were buried in a cemetery and then moved up to Staffordshire. Which church? or churchyard? The location is shown as Snails Farm, South Green. There is a Snails Hall Farm in South Green on the junction with Outwood Common Road, would the two be the same? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 3 February , 2007 Share Posted 3 February , 2007 I read that the 22 crew were buried in a cemetery and then moved up to Staffordshire. Which church? or churchyard? Cannock Chase. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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