Title 23

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Title 23

Monday May 17th 1915

This morning we were all awakened by heavy rifle and machine gun firing at Ramsgate. We rose hastily and wrapping the children up in blankets, beat a hasty retreat to the cellar. Before we had time to leave the bedroom, the first bomb had fallen - an air raid on the town was actually taking place. I returned to the bedroom after carrying Mary to the cellar and hastily dressed (in the dark) in case I should be called on duty as a special constable. It was very interesting (?) to be dressing in the dark bedroom and hearing bombs drop in the town, several with loud explosions and wondering if the next one was coming through our own roof. Then I joined the others in the cellar (Mummie, Mary, Roger, Auntie, Sarah & Maggie.) Everyone was perfectly cool and Mary was very good and quite self-possessed. She only said, when I was carrying her downstairs “Oh, Daddy. What is it? Have the Germans come?” But she did not cling to me or show any signs of panic, although the noise of the machine guns and the explosions of the dropping bombs was enough to alarm a child. Roger of course was too young to understand anything but he heard the rattle of the guns and said “Ooh! Man! Tat tat!!”

The suspense did not last long, as all the noise was over by about 5 minutes past two and as I was not called out on any duty and I thought I could now safely leave the ladies I decided to go out and “prospect” on my own which I did just before 2.15 a.m.

The Zeppelin - for such it proved to be - had practically followed the main street of the town, from the harbour to St. Lawrence. She must have dropped pretty nearly 20 bombs in all, most of them incendiary ones, and most if not all of these fortunately fell in the streets or gardens, so practically no fires were caused. I think the biggest fire was a fowl house in the rear of Mr G. Hayes house, the dentist 8 Chapel Place. So far as I can learn at present there were four explosive bombs used which made most noise and did most damage. One at the back of the Imperial Bazaar, 6 Albion Hill, where Fred Coleman told me there was a hole big enough to put the fire engine in; one at the rear of Richford's poultry shop in Queen Street; and two on the Bull & George Hotel in High Street. It was at this hotel that most damage was done. A bomb hit it fairly on the roof and exploded inside, the whole of the front rooms from roof to floor being a complete wreck. There were three persons injured here, and taken to the hospital where Dr Hicks told me one, a woman, is not expected to live. Another bomb was also dropped on this hotel. All the shop windows in the neighbourhood are smashed. The clock outside the hotel stopped at the moment of the attack, 1.47. The barmaid at the hotel had a marvellous escape. Having been warned she had just got up when a bomb passed through the bed on which she had been lying. A Mr and Mrs Smith, who were visitors at the hotel, were injured, the bomb passing through the room in which they were sleeping and they and their bed were carried down into the basement. I believe it is Mrs Smith who is so seriously injured. I was able to see the hotel from Turner Street. High Street having been barricaded off on each side, as they fear the front of the building may collapse.

Of the incendiary bombs I was able to see the spot where one fell in front of Mr Baldock's, the drapers shop, in Queen Street. This fell just in the kerb in front of the shop window, which was badly smashed. Mr Baldock told me it was flaring up when he looked out of the window. Had it fallen in the premises it would undoubtedly have caused a big fire. Another fell a few yards off between Crow's the tobacconist and Britton's the butchers, both in Queen Street. I also saw where one had fallen in the garden in front of Chapel Place and I believe a second one fell in this garden. I also found that 2 dropped in the grounds of St. Catherine's Hospital in the High Street, 2 in Ellington Park and several in St. Lawrence.

Later on I returned to Glenthorne and after a cup of tea took Mummie Mary and Auntie out to see the damage. Outside we met Grandpa & Grandma so we joined forces on a sight seeing expedition.

At Westgate today it took me nearly all my time to answer questions and explain what had happened, first to one person and then to another. Feeling not much like work I returned to Ramsgate by the 2.42 p.m. train which was packed with people going in to see the damage. Ramsgate was like a fair, full of people, inhabitants and visitors. We all went out again and were able to go through to the rear of Richford's shop [poulterer, 7 Queen Street] and also to the rear of the Imperial Bazaar and view the ruins. It appears that an incendiary bomb dropped on the roof of the Star Cinema in George Street and bounced off into Haskings back garden. This was just near enough to us.

The Admiralty Statement issued this afternoon states that the Westgate and Eastchurch Airmen chased the zeppelin as far as the West Hinder Lightship and then 8 British Naval planes came out from Dunkirk and took him in hand!! 3 engaged him at close range and one got above him and dropped 4 bombs on to him. A column of smoke was seen to issue from one of his compartments and then he rose to a great height and was last seen making off with his tail very much down.


	Title 1 \| home Title 23 Monday May 17th 1915 This morning we were all awakened by heavy rifle and machine gun firing at Ramsgate. We rose hastily and wrapping the children up in blankets, beat a hasty retreat to the cellar. Before we had time to leave the bedroom, the first bomb had fallen - an air raid on the town was actually taking place. I returned to the bedroom after carrying Mary to the cellar and hastily dressed (in the dark) in case I should be called on duty as a special constable. It was very interesting (?) to be dressing in the dark bedroom and hearing bombs drop in the town, several with loud explosions and wondering if the next one was coming through our own roof. Then I joined the others in the cellar (Mummie, Mary, Roger, Auntie, Sarah & Maggie.) Everyone was perfectly cool and Mary was very good and quite self-possessed. She only said, when I was carrying her downstairs “Oh, Daddy. What is it? Have the Germans come?” But she did not cling to me or show any signs of panic, although the noise of the machine guns and the explosions of the dropping bombs was enough to alarm a child. Roger of course was too young to understand anything but he heard the rattle of the guns and said “Ooh! Man! Tat tat!!” The suspense did not last long, as all the noise was over by about 5 minutes past two and as I was not called out on any duty and I thought I could now safely leave the ladies I decided to go out and “prospect” on my own which I did just before 2.15 a.m. The Zeppelin - for such it proved to be - had practically followed the main street of the town, from the harbour to St. Lawrence. She must have dropped pretty nearly 20 bombs in all, most of them incendiary ones, and most if not all of these fortunately fell in the streets or gardens, so practically no fires were caused. I think the biggest fire was a fowl house in the rear of Mr G. Hayes house, the dentist 8 Chapel Place. So far as I can learn at present there were four explosive bombs used which made most noise and did most damage. One at the back of the Imperial Bazaar, 6 Albion Hill, where Fred Coleman told me there was a hole big enough to put the fire engine in; one at the rear of Richford's poultry shop in Queen Street; and two on the Bull & George Hotel in High Street. It was at this hotel that most damage was done. A bomb hit it fairly on the roof and exploded inside, the whole of the front rooms from roof to floor being a complete wreck. There were three persons injured here, and taken to the hospital where Dr Hicks told me one, a woman, is not expected to live. Another bomb was also dropped on this hotel. All the shop windows in the neighbourhood are smashed. The clock outside the hotel stopped at the moment of the attack, 1.47. The barmaid at the hotel had a marvellous escape. Having been warned she had just got up when a bomb passed through the bed on which she had been lying. A Mr and Mrs Smith, who were visitors at the hotel, were injured, the bomb passing through the room in which they were sleeping and they and their bed were carried down into the basement. I believe it is Mrs Smith who is so seriously injured. I was able to see the hotel from Turner Street. High Street having been barricaded off on each side, as they fear the front of the building may collapse. Of the incendiary bombs I was able to see the spot where one fell in front of Mr Baldock's, the drapers shop, in Queen Street. This fell just in the kerb in front of the shop window, which was badly smashed. Mr Baldock told me it was flaring up when he looked out of the window. Had it fallen in the premises it would undoubtedly have caused a big fire. Another fell a few yards off between Crow's the tobacconist and Britton's the butchers, both in Queen Street. I also saw where one had fallen in the garden in front of Chapel Place and I believe a second one fell in this garden. I also found that 2 dropped in the grounds of St. Catherine's Hospital in the High Street, 2 in Ellington Park and several in St. Lawrence. Later on I returned to Glenthorne and after a cup of tea took Mummie Mary and Auntie out to see the damage. Outside we met Grandpa & Grandma so we joined forces on a sight seeing expedition. At Westgate today it took me nearly all my time to answer questions and explain what had happened, first to one person and then to another. Feeling not much like work I returned to Ramsgate by the 2.42 p.m. train which was packed with people going in to see the damage. Ramsgate was like a fair, full of people, inhabitants and visitors. We all went out again and were able to go through to the rear of Richford's shop [poulterer, 7 Queen Street] and also to the rear of the Imperial Bazaar and view the ruins. It appears that an incendiary bomb dropped on the roof of the Star Cinema in George Street and bounced off into Haskings back garden. This was just near enough to us. The Admiralty Statement issued this afternoon states that the Westgate and Eastchurch Airmen chased the zeppelin as far as the West Hinder Lightship and then 8 British Naval planes came out from Dunkirk and took him in hand!! 3 engaged him at close range and one got above him and dropped 4 bombs on to him. A column of smoke was seen to issue from one of his compartments and then he rose to a great height and was last seen making off with his tail very much down.