'Zeppelin shot down near Colchester; even with its back broken, towers above nearby farmhouses', the wreck of L33 (LZ76), 1916

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

The wreck of a German zeppelin, probably L33 (LZ76), one of two zeppelins brought down over Essex on the same night in September 1916.

The Zeppelin L33 (LZ76), commanded by Kapitan-Leutnant Alois Bocker was brought down by British anti-aircraft fire and a BE2e night fighter aircraft flown by New Zealander 2nd Lieutenant Alfred de Bathe Brandon, 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 damaged zeppelin could not maintain height and made a forced landing at Little Wigborough near Colchester in Essex and was subsequently destroyed by its crew.

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.