Zeppelin Bomb donation to Sywell Aviation Museum

So did anyone see the bit on the telly then? (Look East)

PRESS RELEASE 29.8.2006

A tragic chapter in Northamptonshire’s history will be recalled this week when Northamptonshire County Council hands over a Zeppelin bomb to an aviation museum.

The Zeppelin incendiary bomb was dropped during an air raid which resulted in the deaths of a Northampton woman and her two children in October 1917. It has been stored at the council’s County Hall headquarters until Sywell Aviation Museum requested permission to display it.

The bomb was one of 22 to be dropped on the town and surrounding countryside on 19 October 1917 by the L45 Zeppelin airship.

The L45, which had been painted black to minimise the changes of detection, was one of four German airships to fly over the county on the night in question. Starting at 10.50pm, the L45 dropped 22 bombs between Kingsthorpe and Piddington:
• five 50 kg bombs landing in Kingsthorpe and Dallington
• nine incendiaries landing In Spencer Bridge Road; Victoria Park, Parkwood Street; Park Road; Westbridge Works and a meadow by the railway line
• followed by a further 8 high-explosive bombs landing at Hunsbury Hill tunnel, Wootton Hill Farm; Preston Deanery and Piddington

The air raid caused the deaths of a mother and two daughters in Parkwood Street, St James.

Mrs Eliza Gammons and her 13-year-old twin daughters Lilian and Gladys were sleeping in one room when the bomb landed on their house. It fell through the roof and set fire to the upper floor.

Mrs Gammons was killed instantly. Although they were pulled alive from the blaze by their brother-in-law Private Arthur Bazeley, the two girls died from their injuries: Gladys died the following day and Lilian died three days after the bombing. They are buried in Dallington cemetery.

The original destination of the Zeppelin had been Sheffield but the airship was driven south by strong winds. The Northampton raid was followed by numerous bombings in London.

The Zeppelin continued to be blown southwards and the following morning made a forced landing in France. The ship was destroyed and the 17 crew members taken prisoner.

Despite 29 Zeppelin raids dropping 66 bombs in the county, this was the only incident that resulted in fatalities.

Councillor Andre Gonzalez de Savage, cabinet member for culture, said: “We’re delighted to be entering into this arrangement with Sywell Aviation Museum and I hope as a result of this many more people will be able to learn about this aspect of Northamptonshire’s history.

“I would urge anyone with an interest in this era of Northamptonshire’s history to visit both the aviation museum and the record office which holds a great deal of information on this particular incident and the county’s involvement in the first world war.”

Richard Watts, chairman of the Sywell Aviation Museum, said: “The museum at Sywell is not only a memorial to those people who served in the air defence of the country during two world wars but acts as an important historical educational resource for present & future generations.

“That’s why I’m very pleased that the council has agreed to loan the bomb to us, so that we can ensure this piece of our history and heritage can be shared with as many people as possible.”

The aviation museum is a non-profit making organisation staffed by volunteers. Admission to the museum is free.

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