On the night of 23-24 September 1916 Zeppelin L32 was making it’s way back from an attempted bomb run on London.  The bombs were actually dropped on Purfleet as the air defences around London were too dangerous.

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The airship made its way back towards mainland Europe it was intercepted by Second Lieutenant Frederick Sowrey of the Royal Flying Corp, the forerunner of the R.A.F.  He was based at R.F.C. Suttons Farm, which later became R.A.F. Hornchurch. 

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The Zeppelin had been found by the searchlights and Sowrey unleased a volley of incendiary ammunition which ignited the gas that kept the airship afloat. 

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Sowrey was awarded Distinguished Service Order for shooting down the Zeppelin.  He would retire from the R.A.F. in 1940 as a Group Captain.  He died in Eastbourne, Sussex on 21 October 1968, aged 75. 

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L32 crashed in to a field near Snails Farm in South Green.  The land the farmhouse once stood on is now occupied by housing on Greens Farm Lane.

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Sightseers came from London to see the wreckage and many souvenirs were taken.  Some can be bought on eBay today.

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My grand aunt, Queenie Carter, was born in Wickford in 1912.  As a small child she was taken to see the wreckage and could remember the awful smell it had created.

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The 22 crew members that were killed were buried in Great Burstead soon afterwards.  Their remains were later removed to Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery in Staffordshire.