An unidentified Lutonian serving on the East Coast told the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph of his experiences during a Zeppelin raid. And he gave his advice about what to do to prevent Luton becoming a target of the new flying terror.
On the night of April 25th-26th I was on late duty. The funny thing about air raids is that you always expect them to happen somewhere else, never to come near you.Just after 11 pm I was reaching up for my cap from the peg when I heard a tremendous whistling sound outside. Then there was a thus that shook the solid earth. For a moment we all stared at each other thunderstruck. Then a corporal shouted, "Zeppelin," and dived for the coal cellar.
We others rushed along the passage out towards the open air (a silly thing to do), and as we did so a further tremendous thud was heard outside. Never shall I forget what followed.
It was a clear starry night, and as soon as I got in the open air I heard the engines of the Zeppelin. I have heard people on the coast say they have noticed an aircraft pass over on the preceding night, but haven't been sure whether it was an aeroplane or a Zeppelin. The difference between the sound of a Zeppelin and an aeroplane engine is the difference between the noise of a Midland express going through Elstree tunnel and a kettle purring on the hob.
I stared up into the starry sky, but could see nothing. Then, quite suddenly, I noticed a bright star disappear. A moment later it reappeared. The was a long dark shape against the brilliant background of stars, and that was the Zeppelin - the terror that flies by night.
After describing the methods of dealing with the visitor, the writer says that before starting back to the Fatherland the "Zep" unloaded a small arsenal of bombs that splashed up white waves far out at sea.
Of course, the whole town was awake by this time, and when I got to my billet I found one girl just recovering from a fainting fit and others in a state of collapse. However, they soon calmed down down as the firing died away.
A couple of bombs failed to explode. Luckily they fell on soft earth, and missed the hard concrete pavements by a few yards. In fact one of the bombs missed a spike fence at the side of the path by about six inches. Crowds of awestruck kiddies peered through the fence at those gentle reminders of German culture all that day.
In case the Zeppelins ever strafe Luton, residents should remember never to run outdoors for any reason; to keep away from doors and windows; and to remain in the lower rooms of the house. If you run outdoors you may get a few stone weight of high explosive "in the neck" or be struck by flying chunks of shell casing and bricks etc; whereas if you remain inside there is only a small chance of the bomb hitting the house fair and square. I can assure you that if it does your happy home will only be a gap in the street, and the postman (or woman) won't be able to find you in the morning.
Above all, don't show any lights. You may think that a small chink of light doesn't matter, but I was talking to one of the Air Service chaps some time ago and he assured me that on a still evening evening the striking of a match can be seen from a great distance up.
Remember that an unguarded light may mean DEATH for a score of your fellow townsmen. If a resident in Cardiff Road shows a light, the Zeppelin "commandantur" may aim a bomb at Cardiff Road and hit Wellington Street instead; while if Wellington Street shows a light, Cardiff Road may get strafed.
If one of those gigantic bombs fell on the roof of a house in Luton, you would probably have to go searching for the remains of that particular domicile up People's Park or on Farley Hill. The weight of it alone, without explosion, is enough to reduce an ordinary house to ruins. And I don't want to see big notches on the landscape next time I come home on pass.
Although there are no big rivers to guide the way to Luton, you never know where the Zeppelins may wander. Therefore - HIDE THAT LIGHT.
Residents of inland towns should not run away with the idea (greatly disseminated by recent criticism) that nothing is being done to stop the sky pirates from coming over here. Only at night, remember the rule they follow is: "THERE'S A LIGHT - DROP A BOMB!"
[Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: June 10th, 1916]