14th April 1915                     

Bombed:

The North-East

On the afternoon of 14 April 1915, naval Zeppelin L 9, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Mathy, was scouting over the North Sea. When about 100 miles off Flamborough Head, with no sign of any British naval activity but with good weather and a load of ten 50kg explosive bombs and 40 incendiaries, Mathy sought and received permission by wireless to raid England.

At about 19.45 L 9 came inland close to Blyth on the north-east coast. As it passed close to Cambois, the startled men of 1^st Battalion Northern Cyclists opened rifle fire as it sailed past. Undeterred,  L 9 dropped its first bombs, which fell in a field at West Sleekburn; fourteen more fell between Choppington (where a hay styack was burnt), Bedlington and Cramlington. Most of these fell in open country. Another nine bombs fell on a line from Seaton Burn, through Dudley, Annitsford, Killingworth, Forest Hall and Longbenton, causing no damage. Then, over Wallsend, Mathy released six incendiaries; one landed on a cottage where it caused minor injuries to a woman and her daughter. Beyond Wallsend, L 9 crossed the Tyne and ineffectively attacked Hebburn before heading back towards the coast. Estimates of the damage caused by Mathy’s raid were just £55.

The lighting restrictions in force in the area seem to have contributed to Mathy’s inability to make an effective attack. And the Tyne garrison was virtually impotent as the area had no anti-aircraft guns at the time of the raid, but shortly afterwards a 3-inch gun transferred there from Portsmouth. More followed.

One aircraft took off from RNAS Whitley Bay and made a valiant effort to locate L 9 but, without any searchlights in the area, it proved fruitless. 

A bomb crater at Bedlington

Casualties: 0 killed, 2 injured

Damage: £55