“Whereas Britain’s experience of 1917-8 air raids had resulted in 1,500 killed in just over 100 raids “
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/wars_conflict/home_front/the_home_front_08.shtml
“In January 1915, two Zeppelin navel airships 190 metres long, flew over the east coast of England and bombed great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn. The first Zeppelin raid on London took place on 31st May 1915. The raid killed 28 people and injured 60 more.
“Many places suffered from Zeppelin raids included Edinburgh, Gravesend, Sunderland, the Midlands and the Home Counties. By the end of May 1916 at least 550 British civilians had been killed by German Zeppelins.”
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWzeppelinraids.htm
“A further seven people were killed in the first Zeppelin attack on London on 31 May. Costlier raids on the capital took place later in the year. On the night of 13/14 October 1915, for example, five Zeppelins accounted for the lives of 71 Londoners.”
...
“From the spring of 1917, the German military authorities increasingly turned their attention to long-range bombers such as the Glossary - opens new windowGotha aeroplane. The daylight attack on London by 20 Gothas on 13 June 1917 killed 162 civilians, the highest death toll from a single air raid on Britain during the war. Less than a month later, on 7 July, a further raid in which 57 more people were killed raised British anti-German sentiments to fever pitch. “
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/spotlights/airraids.htm
When I watched “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” earlier this year I was surprised at the part set during WWI when Chips showed his moral authority by calmly keeping his classroom in order during an air raid. I did not recall ever learning about such events actually occurring. Now I can rest assured that the film’s producers did not exercise undue artistic license in the story line.
Wow. That was a lot more prolific than I thought it would be. Thanks for the links.