'Gondola - from which bombs were dropped on London of Zeppelin brought down off the Essex coast', 1916

Stereoscopic photograph published by Realistic Travels, 1916 (c).

The wreck of a German zeppelin, probably L32 (LZ74), one of two zeppelins brought down over Essex on the same night in September 1916.

Zeppelin L32 (LZ74), commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Werner Gustav Iwan Peterson, was brought down by a British BE2c night fighter flown by 2nd Lieutenant Frederick Sowrey, 39 Home Defence Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, on the night of the 23 September 1916. It was on its way home from an attempted bombing raid on London. The zeppelin crashed at Great Burstead. The entire crew of 22 perished in the action.

Stereographs consist of two identical photographs paired in such a way that when seen through a special viewing instrument, a stereoscope, they appear as a three-dimensional images. By 1899 the photographs were mounted on thick card that was given a slight curvature to increase the illusion of depth.

From a collection of stereoscopic photographs relating to World War One (1914-1918).

From the collection of the former Buffs Regimental Museum.