Details:
In December 1914 the first German Zeppelin appeared over the English coast and in Feburary 1915 the first bombs were dropped from Zeppelins at Yarmouth. By April 1915 the use of airships by the Germans increased. Zeppelins began attacking London. They were also used for naval reconnaissance, to attack London and smaller balloons were used for reconnaissance along the Western Front. They were only stopped when the introduction of aeroplanes shot them down.
In November 1916 the first German air raid on London took place. The Germans hoped that by making raids on London and the South East, the British Air Force would be forced into protecting the home front rather than attacking the German air force.
The bombing raid on Whit Monday 19 May 1918 was carried out by a German Gotha twin-engine airplane. The 100Kg bomb that fell on the corner of Sydenham Road and Fairlawn Park destroyed 3 shops and killed 17 people including 5 soldiers.
Names:
| Cook | Emma E | 23 | |
| Delahoy | Isaac W | 57 | Born 1861, husband of Eliza and father of Laura, Mary V and Beatrice |
| Delahoy | Eliza | 57 | Born 1861, wife of Isaac and mother of Laura, Mary V and Beatrice |
| Delahoy | Beatrice | 17 | Child of Isaac and Eliza with 2 other siblings |
| Delahoy | Laura | 20 | Child of Isaac and Eliza with 2 other siblings |
| Delahoy | Mary V | 14 | Child of Isaac and Eliza with 2 other siblings |
| Hambrook | Elizabeth | 57 | |
| Phillips | William A | 72 | |
| Pout | Emma | 48 | Died in Greenwich RD |
| Smith | Rosina G | 24 | |
| Westley | Redvers Buller | 17 | Born 1900 in Lewisham RD |
| Westley | Rosalind M | 47 | |
| Klingels | John J | 58 |
The 3 shops destroyed were in Sydenham Road
| 198 | Delahoy Bros | Dairymen | Where 4 members of the Delahoy family died |
| 200 | J H Mitchel | Baker | |
| 202 | R Cook | Marine Store Dealer |
Also damaged was
| 204 | Lillian Pout, Miss | Confectioner |
at
233 [a house] John J Klingels was killed.
Memorial:
Lewisham WWI War Civilian Memorial
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by Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
