Raid 57 - 9 August 1916
The Raid
A large raid with 11 airships coming over to a wide area from East Anglia to Northumbria.
The L14 arrived near Berwick and dropped one incendiary at Fallside Hill near Gordon. 3 bombs were dropped on Grahamshaw south of Kelso. It then went down to Northumbria where it dropped one incendiary before heading over the North Sea.
L11 came in at Whitley Bay and bombed the town causing damage and injury. After being fired on by the AA guns it headed back over the sea.
Whitburn is where the L31 came ashore having dropped bombs in the sea. It headed to Salmons Hall near Marsden where 6 bombs were dropped on miners cottages. After this it headed over to the mouth of the Tyne where it circled round, the area was completely blacked out so it was not able to find a target so it headed back out to sea.
The L13 was seem north of Hartlepool and when inland dropped bombs in a field. It then saw the light from the fires at the Kelloe Colliery and Quarrington Line Kiln. Both were bombed and damage was done. It then headed back out to sea.
L30 came in between Whitby and Hartlepool and went over to Skinningrove where it was picked up by a light and dropped bombs in the sea. It then went over Hartlepool where it flew over the docks without dropping bombs. It dropped bombs on a field next to the Seaton Carew Ironworks and on a slag tip at the ironworks.
The searchlight at Port Clarence got the L30 in its light and it picked up speed and headed out over the sea.
The L22 came over from Redcar from the direction of Hartlepool. Bombs were dropped on the Redcar aerodrome but no damage was done. It then went on and dropped bombs near Lealholme but did no damage and headed out over Robin Hoods Bay.
L21 arrived over Scarborough with the L23 where it was attached by an armed trawler called the Itonian. The L23 was hit and headed for home. The L21 was then fired on by the HM yacht Miranda and dropped 3 bombs on it in retaliation without doing any damage. Once it was inland it headed for Skinningrove where it dropped bombs on the quarry. It then went back to sea where it dropped more bombs.
Hessle was the first target for the L24 but no damage was done so it went on to Hull. A lot of bombs were dropped over the city, it seems to have followed the railway line and a lot of property was damaged and people killed and injured.
After attaching Hull it went along the coast before setting out over Filey Bay.
The last airship was the L16 which was seen over Wash coming in at Brancaster. Bombs were dropped at Dersingham doing some damage. Bombs were then dropped on Wolferton before heading out over Hunstanton.
Victims & Damage
The L14 set fire to thistles south of Kelso.
Damage was done in Whitley Bay, a house was wrecked and others and some shops extensively damaged and a lot of glass was broken. There was also injuries for 5 people, including 3 children.
Miners cottages at Salmons Hall were damaged, mostly the roofs and windows. A horse was also killed here.
At Kelloe Colliery 30 feet of colliery railway was demolised and glass broken in the buildings. Nearby Quarrington lime kilns was also bombed and workers cottages had their windows broken.
The bombs which landed on the quarry at Skinningrove destroyed a wooden office and damaged some pipes
There was a lot of damage in Hull, from houses being destroyed to broken windows. The railway telegraph lines were bought down. 2 woman and 3 children were killed outright and 1 man from shock. 1 man, 1 woman and 1 child died of wounds later. The Official report includes another woman who died of syncope induced by shock.
Summary
None of the airships went very far inland and again, apart from in Hull, little damage was done.
The Official Report says that the Colliery waste and the flares at the aerodrome were good targets but little was achieved.
Weather – Wind was calm, weather was fine with very little mist or fog reported.
Response – The guns at Whitley Bay opened fire on the L11 while bombs were being dropped on the town but there no searchlights so they were firing in the dark.
The guns at Hunley Hall had problems as it was not connected by phone with the searchlights.
The Hull guns didn’t achieve much.
Only 1 plane went up from Redcar and it managed to follow an airship for about an hour but he was not able to catch up.
Bombs – 186
Killed – 10
Injured – 16
Raid details Air Raids 1916, 28 July to 9 August 1916, Compiled by the Intelligence Section, General Headquarters Home Forces, no date
Header Photo – Collier St Hull from www1hull.com