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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Wexford => Topic started by: goggy on Saturday 30 July 05 12:55 BST (UK)
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Yes Folk's,my old Mum recalled seeing zepps in her early years(approx 5y.o.)but I cant find 'em over Wexford,found them over the English midlands,but not near to Liverpool,the next possible place for a sighting in her later years.Say 5y.o to 7y.o.
This is only one of the slender threads I have,not much,but worth a try!!
Hoping,Goggy
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Hi Goggy,
I found this showing that that Zeppelins attacked many places in the UK.
In January 1915, two Zeppelin navel airships 190 metres long, flew over the east coast of England and bombed great Yarmouth and King's Lynn. The first Zeppelin raid on London took place on 31st May 1915. The raid killed 28 people and injured 60 more. Many places suffered from Zeppelin raids included Gravesend, Sunderland, Edinburgh, the Midlands and the Home Counties. By the end of May 1916 at least 550 British civilians had been killed by German Zeppelin.
Zeppelins could deliver successful long-range bombing attacks, but were extremely vulnerable to attack and bad weather. British fighter pilots and anti-aircraft gunners became very good at bringing down Zeppelins. A total of 115 Zeppelins were used by the German military, of which, 77 were either destroyed or so damaged they could not be used again. In June 1917 the German military stopped used Zeppelins for bombing raids over Britain.
found it here;
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWzeppelinraids.htm
Not exactly Wexford but it's a start.I'm sure that local papers would have carried the story.
Hope this helps a bit,
Mick ;)
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Mickeym,thank's for that chum,already been thru that one.I dont think Liverpool was actually bombed,just the Zepp's sighted there but it's hard to find out specifically.Only those that actually saw them there could say so.Sadly not many of them left now.
My interest is in fixing a year,either in Wexford or the 'Capital of Culture'!!
Thank's again,Goggy.
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Goggy thought you might like this little item....!!
Zepplin piece from WW1. Extremely scarce, Contained in original small envelope which is printed in red "This piece of wire is from the first Zepplin brought down at Cuffley Herts September 3rd 1916. The wire having been given to the British Red Cross Society by HM War Office is being sold to help the wounded at the front". Also reads price 1 shilling, guarantee with Red cross emblem. Contained inside envelope is a brown piece of metal about 2cm long and 4mm diameter. Amazing this piece has survived.
http://www.mikeyhughesmilitaria.com/british.htm
You always like the weirdest stuff ::) ::) ::)
Hope you're doing OK and HUNKY DOREY
Annie
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You know what else Goggy? I think your Mum saw them going over Ireland on their way to England ::)
Did she say they actually bombed Wexford? check this out
http://www.richthofen.com/dark_autumn/
Annie
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Hi Annie!
Just caught up with this one,yes,been thru' most of the site's on the Zepp's.From info received from me Brudder in the 'Pool,it look's like Mam saw them there at some time,not bombing tho',just terrifying, in particular to a child!
Just posted a mail on the Waterford site may perk you up,as if YOU--- ;D need it!!!
Be well,Goggy.
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Did you see this Goggy ???
http://www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/zeppelin.htm
More readin' ............. !!
Annie
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Gudonya Tiger!!
Got it in the book,will read asap,shoein' 'orses right now,up to halfway through it,fantastic whatI DONT know !!
Take care,Goggy. ;)
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Yes Folk's,my old Mum recalled seeing zepps in her early years(approx 5y.o.)but I cant find 'em over Wexford,found them over the English midlands,but not near to Liverpool,the next possible place for a sighting in her later years.Say 5y.o to 7y.o.
This is only one of the slender threads I have,not much,but worth a try!!
Hoping,Goggy
Actually, your "Mum" most certainly would have seen "Zeppelins" in Wexford - except they belonged to our boys rather than to the Huns! Wexford Harbour was the site of a US Navy seaplane base in 1918 (Ferrybank/Ely House to be precise) - you can still see a concrete launching ramp into the harbour near the new, new bridge. More relevantly, there was also an RAF Airship (blimp) base in Wexford in 1918 - not sure if it was in the same Ferrybank location as the US base or not. However, the point remains that all Wexford residents of the time would indeed have seen these airships, which would of course have been called Zeppelins, even though they were not in fact German.
Yours, etc.
Sir Crispin Gaylord, Bt.
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Now that I think about it, the "RAF base" was in fact an RNAS base, located in Johnstown Castle. I believe I once saw a photograph of an airship from there in some book or other.
Yours, etc.
Sir Crispin Gaylord, Bt.
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here we see the very thing
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here we see the very thing
Indeed. The photograph is from one of your many entertaining publications? However, I believe you may be mistaken in attributing the airship to our colonial cousins. There were two airbases in the vicinity of Wexford during the Great War: the US Naval Air Service base behind Ely House, but also our own boys, who had a Royal Naval Air Service airship base in Johnstown Castle. As the latter was an airship base, while the former was predominantly for seaplanes, the pictured airship is most probably British, i.e. our own.
Yours, etc.
Sir Crispin Gaylord, Bt.