King George V's War Museum

A collection displayed at Windsor Castle by George V following the First World War

BRITISH RED CROSS

Reworked fragments of airship wire

1916

RCIN 69456

Airship SL11 was shot down by Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson at Cuffley, Hertfordshire in the early hours of 3 September 1916. Although commonly thought to be a Zeppelin, SL11 was actually a Schütte-Lanz airship. This was the first airship to be brought down on English soil and Robinson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his achievement. The following day brought the madness of 'Zepp Sunday'. News of the victory quickly spread and over the next two days 10,000 people travelled to the village of Cuffley to see the fallen airship.

The public were not officially allowed to take pieces of the airship themselves, under the Defence of the Realm Act. Instead, the War Office gave the British Red Cross Society vast quantities of wire from the wreck to be made into brooches, bracelets, rings and cuff links which were sold for the benefit of the Society's funds. 

Photograph of a Schütte-Lanz (SL-11) caught in beams of searchlights. The Schütte-Lanz appears luminous against the night sky.
SL11 caught in the beams of searchlightsCopyright: Royal Collection Enterprises Limited
Photograph of a Schütte-Lanz (SL-11) descending to the ground after being shot down over Hertfordshire. A large plume of smoke extends from the falling Schütte-Lanz. Searchlight beams extend up towards the airship. The photograph is tinted red.
SL11 descending to the ground after being shot downCopyright: Royal Collection Enterprises Limited

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