Sequence of Photos of the airship SL 11 Being Shot Down

Description:

Although the Blitz in the Second World War is the best-known example of aerial bombardment in the history of London, air raids also occurred during the First World War. Much of this bombing was undertaken by airships, which killed around 600 Londoners between 1915 and 1917. This series of photographs shows the airship SL (Shutte-Lanz) 11 being caught in searchlights and shot down at Cuffley, near Cheshunt, in 1916. The man responsible for shooting down the SL 11, Lieutenant William Leefe Robertson of the Royal Flying Corps, was awarded the Victoria Cross soon afterwards. He was subsequently captured whilst flying in France. He died in the ?flu epidemic of 1918-1919 a few days after returning to Britain following his release.

Production Date:

1916

ID no:

BGATE_LHW 17-6

Maker:

London History Workshop

Copyright:

Shuttleworth Collection