How the Cleethorpes Zeppelin reached Oldham

The Cleethorpes Zeppelin

On Friday 31 March 1916 men from the 3^rd (Special Reserve) Battalion of the Manchester Regiment arrived in Cleethorpes.  Their role was to strengthen the coastal defences of the River Humber against German attack. As the men unpacked and settled into their billet in Cleethorpes Baptist Church Hall, five German Zeppelins were heading across the North Sea from their base in Nordholz, northern Germany. Their mission was to attack London and East Anglia.

As it approached England, Zeppelin L22, commanded by Kapitanleutnant Martin Dietrich, developed engine problems, so instead of heading for London as planned the pilot changed course for Grimsby docks. Shortly before 1 a.m. on Saturday 1 April the 518ft long airship crossed the east coast. As Dietrich passed over what he believed to be Grimsby, searchlights locked on to the L22 and an anti-aircraft gun opened fire but failed to do any damage.  The Zeppelin released some 25lb bombs which landed harmlessly in open countryside near Cleethorpes. It then headed out to sea, dropping a flare which fell on the river end of the pier, before turning round for a second attack.

Three further bombs were dropped. One hit Sea View Street, shattering shop windows; a second destroyed the local council offices; while the third scored a direct hit on the Baptist Church Hall. Of the 84 men in the billet, 27 died instantly and 53 were injured, five dying later from their wounds.  Four men were rescued uninjured from a small cellar under the hall where they had sneaked for a game of cards.  Thirteen of the dead were from the Oldham area. Due to war-time reporting restrictions the Oldham Chronicle could only refer to the incident as occurring ‘on the East Coast’ while The Times reported it as occurring ‘in a village of no military significance’.

On the morning of Tuesday 4 April a full military funeral for 24 of the dead took place while other men were buried privately by their relatives.  People lined the streets, all traffic came to a standstill and shops closed.  The massed bands of the 3^rd and 4^th Battalions of the Manchester Regiment and the 3^rd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment led the parade as the coffins were carried from St Aiden’s Church to Cleethorpes Cemetery on eight motor lorries draped with the Union Jack and covered with wreaths and other floral tributes.

The parade included about 70 family mourners followed by the whole of the 3^rd Battalion the Manchester Regiment and detachments of the 4^th Manchester and 3^rd Lincolnshire Regiments.  Representatives of Cleethorpes District Council, clergymen, local tradesmen and members of the public also attended.

The 24 coffins were laid in two long graves adjoining each other.  Almost two years later, on 9 March 1918 a tall white stone memorial cross, paid for by public subscription, was unveiled in the cemetery. The inscription on the centre panel reads:

In Memoriam

N.C.O.s and Men 3^rd Battalion The Manchester Regiment

Who lost their lives whilst serving their country on April 1^st 1916.

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This blog post was written by Dorothy Bintley from Oldham Local Studies and Archives. 

References:

Oldham Chronicle
Oldham Standard
Image 1: Cleethorpes Cemetery – Commonwealth War Graves Commission (http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/41520/Cleethorpes%20Cemetery)