Shropshire Routes to Roots

6. Sources

Introduction

On this page, you can read how the newspapers were restricted when reporting about the Zeppelin raids. In contrast to the newspapers, the letters are a more frank and detailed account and show how people were really affected.

Newspaper reports

24 September 1915
Report on the most severe bombing of London. Note how short the article is.
Open article (Opens in a new window)

4 June 1915
Report on the first bombing of London. At the end of the article is a statement by the Press Bureau instructing the papers not to publish to much detail about the Zeppelin raids.
Open article (Opens in a new window)

Will the Zeppelins come?
Patriotic description of the "finest air organisation" in the world.
Open article (Opens in a new window)

11 February 1916
Report on the damage and casualties caused by a Zeppelin Raid. This was the last detailed report published, as later reports were not allowed to give details on damage.
Open article (Opens in a new window)

16 February 1916
Advice on protection against Zeppelin raids.
Open article (Opens in a new window)

Letters

Letter describing life on the Home Front
This explains that people were "living in funny times" with all the changes to lifestyle due to the Zeppelin raids.
Open letter (Opens in a new window)

Letter describing horrors of the Zeppelin raids
The writer says that "it gave me the keenest satisfaction when those bruites who had been killing and maiming women and children with such diabolical callousness were roasted alive at Potter's Bar."
Open letter (Opens in a new window)

Letter describing the success of British defences
The writer notes that "we have put two Down, two more crawling about in a badly Damaged state & the fifth sending wireless messages to say she can't get home."
Open letter (Opens in a new window)

Extract from a letter describing horrible weapons of war
The writer observes that "Bomb-dropping is a haphazard form of fighting which makes away with more than a fair share of women + children."
Open letter (Opens in a new window)

Continue

Return to top of page