19 June 2025 19:30
Ian Castle - “A Fine Feat of Arms" - The Zeppelin Base Raids, Autumn 1914
The Talk: In the summer of 1914, as Europe teetered on the brink of war, the spectre of immediate Zeppelin raids on London and other major British towns and cities loomed large. When First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, accepted responsibility for the aerial defence of London, he recognised that Zeppelins were most vulnerable when on the ground. Despite limited resources, he believed that attack provided the best method of defence against the Zeppelin threat and, in autumn 1914, authorized the Royal Naval Air Service to carry out raids on Zeppelin bases in Germany.
Whereas much of what we study in the First World War focuses on the actions of great bodies of men - of divisions, corps and armies – this talk by Ian Castle highlights the work of individuals, the handful of men who carried out history’s earliest examples of strategic bombing, at a time when aviation itself was in its infancy. It is a tale of great courage, intrepidity and much derring-do!
About the Speaker: Ian (FRHistS) is an author and a leading historian of Germany’s WW1 air raids on Britain.
Tickets: Entry is free but we rely totally on donations to cover our costs! - Hall, speaker, drink etc. We suggest £5 per person - or whatever you can afford. You do not need to book to attend, but it would help us if you did (i.e. hall preparation and refreshments etc.).
Book your FREE tickets here - Coming soon!
Location map here