First Zeppelin Raid on Britain

1915: January 19

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Britain’s first casualties on home soil came on January 19, 1915 when three German zeppelins set out to drop bombs on the eastern coastal towns of Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn. While one of the zeppelins had to turn back with technical problems, two of the aircraft managed to drop their payloads.

It was the start of the depressing strategy of total ‘black-out’ in areas considered to be targets for air raids; streets were plunged into darkness and houses were bound by law to cover their windows.