Zeppelin Attack on Tyneside
31 bombs dropped on 14 April 1915
From: 1915-Apr-14
Civil Parish: South Shields
Commanded by Kapitanleutnant Marthy, the Zeppelin L.9 was on course to return to its base when Marthy gave the order to prepare to raid the Tyne. With a good supply of bombs still on board and its location now being within a hundred miles of Flamborough Head, Marthy’s plan soon received official sanction.
By 7 pm, the L.9 reached the mouth of the Tyne, heading further northwards.
The first bomb dropped in a field at West Sleekburn. A total of twenty-two bombs followed. The L.9 reached the Tyne at about 8.40 pm.
Marthy dropped the eight remaining bombs of the Zeppelin before he changed course towards sea near South Shields. A woman and child were found injured afterwards and were the only two recorded casualties that occurred during this air raid.
Zeppelin L9 flew down the coast from Blyth to South Shields, dropping bombs seemingly indiscriminately on the way, most falling in open fields owing to the effectiveness of night time lighting restrictions in force. Lighting restrictions clearly weren’t in force, however, on an NER electric passenger train which was travelling from Tynemouth to Newcastle Central, fully lit up. The incident was reported upon nationwide a couple of days later:
“The Zeppelin and an electric train from Tynemouth, travelling at right angles to each other, approached Wallsend station at the same time. The train was lighted, and the Zeppelin saw it. Down fell a bomb, and it struck the railway about ten yards in front of the train. The driver put his brakes on and stopped as soon as he could, and the guards turned out the lights. The Zeppelin dropped two more bombs, both of which struck the line and set fire to the sleepers, but the train was not hit. There were a fair number of passengers, including women, to whom the terrifying experience was a trying ordeal. In the case of one woman it brought on a hysterical attack that required medical treatment, but the fortitude of the passengers generally was most praiseworthy. The train officials remained at their posts, and when the airship was well away they brought the train on to Newcastle” – The Manchester Guardian, 16th April 1915
Contributed by Durham County Record Office | Rob Langham
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Zeppelin L9 flew down the coast from Blyth to South Shields, dropping bombs seemingly indiscriminately on the way, most falling in open fields owing to the effectiveness of night time lighting restrictions in force. Lighting restrictions clearly weren’t in force, however, on an NER electric passenger train which was travelling from Tynemouth to Newcastle Central, fully lit up. The incident was reported upon nationwide a couple of days later:
"The Zeppelin and an electric train from Tynemouth, travelling at right angles to each other, approached Wallsend station at the same time. The train was lighted, and the Zeppelin saw it. Down fell a bomb, and it struck the railway about ten yards in front of the train. The driver put his brakes on and stopped as soon as he could, and the guards turned out the lights. The Zeppelin dropped two more bombs, both of which struck the line and set fire to the sleepers, but the train was not hit. There were a fair number of passengers, including women, to whom the terrifying experience was a trying ordeal. In the case of one woman it brought on a hysterical attack that required medical treatment, but the fortitude of the passengers generally was most praiseworthy. The train officials remained at their posts, and when the airship was well away they brought the train on to Newcastle" - The Manchester Guardian, 16th April 1915
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