The Raid

Whether the mysterious ‘soldiers’ in Hunstanton were making preparation for the Zeppelin raid is not known, but such a raid would need to be planned.  In those early days of  flying, it was not unusual for airships to receive guidance from the ground by accompanying motor cars, particularly over unknown territory in pitch dark.  This would involve a network of spies and careful planning.

It was not long after the ‘soldiers’ visit along the road east of Hunstanton that other unusual incidents were occurring along the road to the west on this lonely north Norfolk coast.  Residents of both Heacham & Snettisham, some few miles along the coast road from Hunstanton, were reporting cars signalling out to sea with bright flashing lights.   Holcombe Ingleby,  MP for King’s Lynn at this time, stated in his book 'The Zeppelin Raid in West Norfolk', that Mrs. Hooks of Snettisham was walking home one night when she came upon a motor car parked on the road above Heacham Bottom which was signalling out to sea.   Mrs. Hooks described these signals as long and short flashes and coming from a very bright light which sometimes shone directly upward into the sky.    Just one week before the raid on January 19th, a car was seen again flashing out to sea from Snettisham Hill on the other side of Heacham Bottom.  Geoffrey Girling of Heacham said the car, when spotted, moved off along the road but again stopped and continued signalling.  These incidents were reported to the local constable.

The reader will appreciate that there were very few cars on the roads in 1915 and even fewer in this lonely part of the Norfolk coast.  Unknown vehicles, particularly, would have attracted interest.  Mr. Ingleby asks, "Was this preparation for the Zepplin’s visit by an established network of spies?"   Other reports were to come of cars guiding  Zeppelins during the raid.  But more of that later.

A bombing raid of East Anglia, it was said, had been planned for months and this followed closely on the bombardment from the sea of Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool by the German fleet. The photograph shows a Zeppelin airman studying a map of Norfolk.  Click for larger image. Photo from Leigh Goodsell

There were conflicting reports regarding the number of Zeppelins taking part in the raid.  It was generally thought to be three as this number had been sighted at 12.30pm flying over the Dutch island of Ameland on their way to the Norfolk coast 150 miles away

The authorities in London did not receive the news of the ‘sailing’ of the fleet of Zeppelins towards England until 8pm and it was at 8.15pm that the first six bombs were dropped on Great Yarmouth killing a 50 year old man and a 72 year old widow.

At 8.30pm the airships were seen 30 miles to the east flying over Cromer and at 8.45pm eight bombs were dropped 4 miles beyond Cromer on and around the town of Sheringham.

Much later at 10pm the airships were sighted over Hunstanton 30 miles east of Sheringham, having been seen circling various villages including Brancaster where a bomb was dropped by the church. 

Between 10 and 11pm, the airships were seen or heard over Dersingham, Snettisham, Heacham, Sandringham, Grimston and Castle Rising.  At 10.45pm two attempts were made to drop bombs on the royal residence at Sandringham.  The King (George V) had left Sandingham 12 hours earlier and both bombs exploded over a mile away from the house.  A bomb was dropped by Snettisham Church and two on the village of Heacham although one failed to explode.

By 11pm the Zeppelins were over King’s Lynn, 16 miles from Hunstanton, and they dropped seven bombs on the city killing a 26 year old war widow and a boy of 14 before leaving the land and flying out over The Wash to the sea.