Wordsley History Society

Vice-chairman Jim Skidmore welcomed 57 members and 47 visitors to the meeting, and after reminding everyone of the safety and refreshment arrangements introduced the speaker, Ian Bott, whose subject was entitled The Midlands Zeppelin Outrage.

Ian began by reminding us of the death-toll of millions in the First World War. Within that vast statistic were included 35 men, women and children killed here in the Black Country by the Zeppelin raid of 31 January 1916.

Intended by their inventor for tourist transport around Southern Germany and the Alps, Zeppelins were transformed by the German Imperial Navy into long-range bombers. Even after almost two years of war, Britain’s defences against this new threat were complacent and unco-ordinated – for instance, in the Industrial Midlands, Birmingham operated a blackout; the Black Country did not.

On that last night of January l916 nine Zeppelins had set out to bomb Liverpool. The stated aim was both to damage the docks and civilian morale. They chose a moonless night, but this and fog left the group lost and scattered. Two ships, L.19 and L.21 found themselves over the Black Country.

The Commander of L.21, Max Friedrich, mistook the canals and factories for Liverpool dockland, dropping high-explosive and incendiary bombs from low level, across Tipton, Bradley, Wednesbury and Walsall, causing 35 deaths,. L.19, hampered by a failed engine, bombed Kidderminster and West Bromwich (and even Dudley Castle) without adding to the fatalities. She and her crew were lost in the North Sea on the way home.

Despite censorship of the names of the victims, sensational coverage in the newspapers ensured that the sense of shock and outrage at the killing of civilians in their own homes and neighbourhoods was fully exploited. Postcards sold in great numbers, souvenirs were collected, ‘war tourism’ was undertaken, the Kaiser indicted as the murderer on death certificates, enlistment greatly boosted, and the targetting of civilians involved in their country’s war effort meant another step towards ‘total war’.

Chairman, Brian thanked Ian for this most interesting insight into that fateful night, the audience echoing his remarks in their applause.

Following the talk, the raffle was drawn, and refreshments served. Brian then reminded the audience of the arrangements for the AGM to be held in May, thanked the ladies who had provided the refreshments, and finally wished everyone a safe journey home. The June talk will take place on Thursday 9th when Charles Hajdamach will give an illustrated talk entitled 'The Crystal Palace Exhibition 1851', referring to this iconic glass and steel building that housed the first international "exhibition of art and industry of all nations" and discovering the links with the Stourbridge glass industry. New members and visitors welcome".