The Soldiers
They still talk about the Zeppelin raid that happened in Norfolk coastal towns and
villages on the night of January 19th, 19l5.
Elderly people remember the huge cigar shaped threat that appeared
above them in the dark of the night. Others tell stories of spies signalling out to
sea prior to the night of the raids and of powerful cars leading Zeppelins to their
targets along country lanes.
This story starts with a book written by Holcombe Ingleby* member
of parliament for King's Lynn in 1915. He was, apparently, so incensed by disbelief
in the House that a series of mysterious events had taken place in north west Norfolk
leading up to the raid of January 19th that he had his evidence compiled and published.
The first event, never satisfactorily explained, started with the
arrival of two men in Hunstanton on 7th November 1914 in a 'ramshackle old car'.
They were dressed as soldiers in the uniforms of staff officer and sergeant and booked
into the Sandringham Hotel for the night. The two soldiers later attracted the
attention of the staff of the hotel because they slept together in the same bed.
During after dinner conversation, other guests learned that the
soldiers had to go out that evening. One of these guests offered the use of his car
for their unexplained journey which the sergeant accepted, although refusing to take him
along with them as he said, 'It was against regulations'. They, nevertheless, took
along the man's chauffeur.
They drove off in the direction of Brancaster, commandeering a
young constable who they came across on duty in Old Hunstanton. It is not known on
what grounds they convinced the constable that he could be commandeered.
| Upon arriving in Titchwell, a tiny village some 5 miles east of
Hunstanton, the chauffeur was told to turn down the short lane which led past the church
and rectory and out onto the marsh. Leaving the constable and chauffeur in the car,
the soldiers started to 'make their way down to the marsh with the sea beyond' when they
were accosted by the rector who was alarmed by the rare occurrence of the late night
visit. |
Titchwell Church and the marsh beyond
|
Holcombe Ingleby reports in his book that 'a fracas
was threatened' with the soldiers being particularly abusive, until the sergeant with a
pretence of being part of the locally stationed Welsh Yeomanry, asked if the rector had
seen any 'flashing lights thereabouts'. Feeling that they had satisfactorily
explained their presence, the officer and his sergeant withdrew leaving the rector to
ponder dubiously over the situation. They returned to the car and drove off towards
Wells-Next-The-Sea and were seen returning some two hours later at 2am the following
morning.
One 'shrewd old party' who had heard the fracas in Titchwell,
believed the Major was, in fact, a woman having in the darkness heard only their voices.
This would account, Holcome Ingleby thought, for the ealier story of the strange
bedfellows!
The Inspector of Police for Old Hunstanton became involved the
following morning because of the commandeering of his constable, but he received
instructions from his superiors not to detain these suspects. However, following the
soldiers departure from the area there was 'a big scare on the East coast with troops
under arms all night'. It was assumed that the soldiers visit had had some 'serious
and definite purpose'.
This story, unsatisfactory and incomplete, is only the start of
many unusual incidents that happened before the night of the infamous Zeppelin raid upon
Norfolk.
*The Zeppelin Raid in West Norfolk
by Holcombe Ingleby 1915
Zeppelin | The Soldiers | The
Raid
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