World War One air raids in north London

Based on childhood recollections of a working class area in north London.

The tremendous death toll of the 1914-18 War was borne by the soldiers fighting on the overseas fronts, not by civilians. As children, we were too young to understand death, loss of mobility or disfigurement. So the variety of sights associated with the war on the home front were fascinating and even enjoyable.

Air raids were mainly along the east coast which the German planes and zeppelin air-ships could most easily reach. We in London did have air raids, but they were nowhere near as lethal as those of the Second World War because the weapons were less advanced. On October the 1st 1916, when I was ten, a German air ship did reach near us in Edmonton. It was brought down in flames at nearby Cuffley and made headline news because it came so close to the centre of London and because it killed the most renowned of the German airship commanders, Heinrich Mathy.

When there was an air-raid, we children loved to see the search lights criss-crossing the sky at night, and it was a highlight for us to see a German aeroplane caught in one of them.

I remember one evening in particular when a German plane was brought down in flames. The brilliance and colour of the display lit up the whole sky and my brothers and I were mesmerised at the sight of it and thrilled and proud at what we regarded as a mini-victory for our country. Our mother, though, did not smile. She simply remarked on the sadness for some family, somewhere. With hindsight, as an adult, I of course feel the same, and am ashamed of our childlike reactions.