Notes: 1. ‘At that time (i.e. 1973, when a photo was taken by John Rippington) the plaque was in the Stirling Foundry in Jarrow, once part of the Palmer Shipyard. Although I do not know where the plaque is today, it is thought to be in what was the Beringaria shed in what is now the Rohm Haas Chemical Works who now occupy the former shipyard.’ (Letter from Mr. Len Siegel).
2. The Zeppelin LZ40 (L10) was under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hirsch. It crossed the north east coast at Blyth and headed directly for Wallsend where bombs were dropped on the Marine Engineering Works. It then headed for Jarrow where, at about 11.40 p.m. 7 Heavy Explosive and 5 Incendiary bombs were dropped on Palmer’s Works. 17 men died and 72 were injured. Later, bombs fell at Willington (Quay) where they damaged Cookson’s Antimony Works and Pochin’s Chemical Works and several houses. A policeman, Robert Telford died at Willington Quay.
The LZ40 (L10) then headed for the sea dropping bombs near Harton Colliery Staithes and South Shields [market place] on the way”. (Summary of Shields Gazette, dated 17/06/1915).
3. L10 was struck by lightning at Neuwerk off Cuxhaven on the 3rd September 1915.
4. The ages of the victims were reported from an inquest: Albert Bramley (54); Matthew Carter (66); Carl Karling (24); Joseph Lane (67); Robert Thomas Nixon (32); Frederick Pinnock (29); Lawrence Frazer Sanderson (16); Thomas Henry Smith (23); Ralph Snaith; William Stamford; Joseph Beechwood Thornycroft (31); William Grieves Turner (20); John George Windle (22); William Erskine Cook Young (16); Ann Isabella Loughlin, living near the yard, died from shock, (62);
5. Thomas Henry Smith is remembered in Jarrow Cemetery. See link below.
6. Joseph Lane, who was mentioned in the inquest, but is not on the Palmers memorial, appears on St. John’s Wesleyan Methodist Memorial plaque. See J2.25.
7. The following extract is from an Official Report prepared by the War Office, reproduced by permission of the Controller, H.M. Stationery Office: ‘On this map are shown two similar raids on Tyneside by single German naval Zeppelins. On the first occasion on the night of the 14th April, 1915. Kapitänleutnant Mathy raided in the L.9 and dropped bombs pretty freely along his route. The only casualties occurred at Wallsend, where a woman and child were injured. On the second occasion on the night of the 15th June, 1915. Kapitänleutnant Hirsch came over in the L.10. He carefully preserved his bombs until he reached the industrial establishments on the Tyne. His bomb dropping was remarkably accurate and directive. Extensive damage was done to many works, including Palmer’s, at Jarrow, where seventeen men were killed and seventy-two injured.’ See Map below.
8. The plaque was missing for a while, and then appeared for sale in the Boldon Auction Rooms in late 2015. ‘It was purchased by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums for placing with the South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, ref TWCMS 2016.203. The seller was Vince Rea, who ran the Bede Gallery in Jarrow from 1970 until 1996. The plaque was formerly displayed at the Bede Gallery and has been in storage since the Gallery closed in 1996.
