The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Cylindrical napkin ring made from duraluminium (an aluminium alloy) recovered from German Zeppelin L32. The ring is engraved with 'ZEPPELIN L 32 / SEPT. 24. 1916.' The engraved letters are partly filled with black ink or paint.
The Zeppelin L32 was the first genuine German Zeppelin shot down over England during the First World War, early on the morning of 24 September 1916. A few weeks earlier, on 3 September, the first German airship had been shot down over London, the Schutte-Lanz SL11 (although it was not a Zeppelin, it was commonly referred to as one). L32 was shot down by Second Lieutenant Frederick Sowrey and crashed in flames at Great Burstead, near Billericay in Essex. All 22 members of the crew of were killed. Most died due to the flames, but some, including the airship's commander, Werner Peterson, chose to jump to their deaths. The crew was initially buried at Great Burstead until their remains were moved, together with those of the crews of SL11, L31 and L48, to be reinterred at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery in Staffordshire in the 1960s. Minutes after the L32 crashed, the Zeppelin L33 crash landed at New Hall Farm, Little Wigborough, also in Essex. The crew of L33 survived and became prisoners of war. Pieces of airships, especially Zeppelins, were a very popular souvenir in England. People travelled considerable distances to view the crash sites and purchase, or scavenge for pieces of the wreckage. At the site of the crash of SL11 pieces of the wreckage were sold by the Red Cross to raise money for wounded soldiers. At the site of L32 soldiers tried to prevent the public from going near the site, but people still managed to collect thousands of pieces of the wreck which had fallen in nearby fields. While some pieces remained as they were found, other pieces of airships were turned into souvenir items such as jewellery. This napkin ring was made from a piece of the L32. It was given to Olivia Gardener by Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Drummond Warrington-Morris, RAF. Mrs Gardener was working in England with the British Red Cross when she saw the Zeppelin crash.
Scrap of grey cotton canvas from a Zeppelin air ship. The piece has rough edges and a dark grey line running through it (pencil?). May still have some dope on it. At one end part of the letter 'B' or
Piece of duraluminium (an aluminium alloy) from a Zeppelin. One side is rounded, while the other side has multiple grooves. The Zeppelin L32 was the first genuine German Zeppelin shot down over Engl
Metal Zeppelin fragment comprising of two pieces of metal joined together by two rivets. There are two further larger rivets, one through each piece of the two parts. The metal is warped and shows evi
Mica sheet from a German Zeppelin. The sheet is made up of several thin layers and is very fragile. This piece of the Zeppelin L32 was collected by Captain Ormond Bisset, Royal Marine Light Infantry
Five rings made from made from metal recovered from German Zeppelin L32. The band of each ring is made from a dark grey metal. The edges of the band are soldered together. Attached to each band is a s
Twisted and damaged piece of duraluminium (an aluminium alloy) from a Zeppelin. The metal has the remains of mud and, possibly, very small plant fibres. The Zeppelin L32 was the first genuine German
