Scarce W.W.I. Zeppelin Matchbox Cover. 1916 (Chris Balm Early Aviation & Motoring Items)

Scarce W.W.I. Zeppelin Matchbox Cover. 1916

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Scarce W.W.I. Zeppelin Matchbox Cover. 1916

Scarce W.W.I. Zeppelin Matchbox Cover. 1916 (Details)

Scarce W.W.I. period matchbox cover made to commemorate the first German zeppelin shot down over England. Dated 1916.

Metal, three sided cover with celluloid cover. The spine bears the inscription, "Souvenir Of The First Zep. Destroyed In England, Sept. 3rd, 1916". Either side of the cover is printed with pictures of the zeppelin. The front shows the zeppelin caught in the beams of searchlights and the caption, "Reached London, 2.30am" and the reverse shows it crashing in flames, "Went To My Doom, 2.45am". Fair amount of wear and tear, but importantly the image areas and captions remain intact.

This item commemorates the first zeppelin to be destroyed over England during W.W.I. This zeppelin was the "SL 11" which was built by the Schutte-Lanz company. This airship was part of a sixteen strong raid over London on the 3rd September 1916. The SL 11 was spotted and intercepted by 2nd Lt. William Leefe Robinson of No. 39 (Home Defence) Squadron while flying a DeHavilland BE2c night fighter biplane. After firing on the airship with the RFC's new incendiary ammunition, the SL 11 began to burn, falling to earth over Cuffley, Hertfordshire. This action considerably raised British morale, so much so that two days later, Leefe Robinson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his action.

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