Incendiary bomb damage to Tranquil Vale - WW1

WW1 - Blackheath Village residents look on in shock and amazement at the extensive damage to 6 shops and 2 houses on the corner of Tranquil Vale and Southvale Road, Blackheath as the result of a Zeppelin bombing raid. On the night of 24th/25th August 1916, a German Zeppelin L31 (a large airship, nearly 200m long) piloted by Capt Lt (Kapitanleutnant) Heinrich Mathy crossed from the continent. It headed up the Thames Estuary just before midnight, over Essex then south over Isle of Dogs. Here, the first 4 bombs were dropped (at 1.30am, 80 houses damaged), then Deptford was attacked (Army Depot and an Electricty Co.), then Greenwich (houses near the station damaged). The Zeppelin then crossed over Blackheath, dropping 4 bombs on army horse depot, 1 bomb on Tranquil Vale (as pictured) (6 shops and 2 houses hit with a 70 year old woman killed), then on to Eltham (5 bombs dropped), Plumstead (11 bombs dropped, anti-aircraft guns fired but missed) and Rainham Essex (1 bomb dropped), heading back out to sea at 2.15am. Overall, the Zeppelin had dropped 36 explosive bombs, 8 incendiary bombs with 9 killed and 40 wounded. Low cloud hampered anti-aircraft attempts to spot the craft as it passed overhead. The site was cleared, eventually being occupied by All Saints Parish Hall and subsequently, Mary Evans Picture Library

Amazed Amazement Capt Explosive Incendiary Kapitanleutnant Mathy Nightime Onlookers Shocked Tranquil Vale Villagers

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