‘Cigar of death’ bombed the Valley – and killed a thrush
IT is 100 years since a huge Zeppelin airship struck fear into Rossendalians in a night-time raid that dropped 12 bombs on the Valley.
The German Zeppelin L21, commanded by Obeleutnant Kurt Frankenburg, was spotted off the coast of Lincolnshire on the evening of September 25, 1916, before it headed over Yorkshire and into Lancashire, where it followed the tracks of the East Lancashire Railway line along the Rossendale Valley.
The 179-metre-long “cigar-shaped engine of death” - as it was popularly called - was witnessed over Lumb, Rawtenstall, Ewood Bridge, Stonefold, Haslingden, Helmshore, Holcombe and Ramsbottom.
The Free Press reported that schoolboy Jack Waddington, of Back Chapel Street, Haslingden, said: “As soon as I heard the Zeppelin I was under the bed in a flash. All the lights were out as was the custom in war but a lot of people went out into the streets.”
The Zeppelin appeared above Bacup just before midnight and set a course across the Rossendale Valley, where bombs began to be dropped.
The first incendiary bomb fell shortly after the Zeppelin passed over Seat Naze at Newchurch.
It fell in the grounds of Heigh Side House, but luckily did not ignite.
A special constable carried it to Cloughfold, from where a tram carried it on to Rawtenstall for police safekeeping. This bomb can still be seen today in the museum at The Whitaker.
A second bomb, this time explosive, fell without detonating in a field behind Lea Bank House, and was dealt by soldiers from Bury Barracks.
Another explosive bomb then fell near Hall Carr Road as the Zeppelin gradually turned southwards, passing over Rawtenstall and what is now the M66.
At this point Frankenburg dropped an explosive which landed beside Greens Lane, near to Rossendale golf course.
So far none of the bombs had caused serious damage or any injuries, but as the L21 travelled over the Valley towards Ramsbottom, Frankenburg released five explosive and two incendiary bombs at Ewood Bridge, which destroyed a section of rail from the East Lancashire Railway track near Irwell Vale Bridge. Bombs cratered around Irwell Vale and Lumb.
Five successive bombs then fell in quick succession on the village of Holcombe, with one hitting Emmanuel Holcombe CE Primary School. Frankenburg then circled the area and moved over Holcombe Brook and Greenmount where he dropped a further two incendiary bombs and then moved onto towards Bolton.
One of the only victims of the bombing raid - an unlucky thrush - was preserved and displayed in Emmanuel Holcombe Primary.
In the press at the time there was very little printed about the raid as the War Office wanted to keep the destination secret to misinform the enemy.
The article in the Free Press covering the Rossendale raids located them in the ‘North Midland districts’.
We reported: “The flight of the bombs could be clearly discerned as they fell to earth, followed in many cases by tremendous explosions.
“The concussions shook the houses, and some who had not previously been aware of the proximity of the raider were awakened from sleep by the noise of the explosion, the violent rattling of the windows and the vibration of the buildings.
“In a very short time many hundreds of people were in the dark streets. Those who were out quick enough saw the passing of the Zeppelin and the firey streak of the falling bombs. There was no sign of panic or fear. These north-midland districts are not inured to Zeppelin raids, as say the districts of the East coast, but they stood the experience quietly and well.”
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