Metal control block from Zeppelin L31: Flight Lieutenant E P M Shaw, Royal Flying Corps

Control block from a Zeppelin. Wide triangular shaped piece of metal bolted to a duraluminium (aluminium alloy) plate by four nuts and bolts with washers. The bolts are further secured by split pins threaded through a small hole drilled in the end of each bolt thread. There is a hole through the width of the control block with a cylindrical piece of metal (possibly steel) extending through it. The cylinder has four ridges, securing it in place. Around the centre of the cylinder is a white metal band. The top of the control block is cut away to reveal the cylinder. '15329' is impressed in one side of the control block. A paper label is attached to the other side reading 'Control Block of Zeppelin Brought down at Potters Bars 1/10/16'. The base plate has a row of four small holes through the middle.

Piece of German Zeppelin L31, collected by Second Lieutenant Evelyn Percy Murray Shaw, an Australian serving in the British Royal Flying Corps (later Royal Air Force). Shaw trained in England and in June 1916 joined 57 Squadron (Sqn). In July he began flying between England and France 'ferrying' new and repaired aircraft. On 27 August he had his first experience of aerial combat, when he sighted three German Albatrosses in the clouds. He shot at them but did not hit the Germans due to the clouds. The Germans were unable to shoot down any of the British aircraft for the same reason. By the end of his time with 57 Squadron Shaw had flown over the English Channel 41 times.

On 3 April 1917 he joined 2 Squadron in France and took part in patrols, reconnaissance, aerial photography and attacks on enemy targets. Shaw participated in a number of aerial battles over France, including one on 12 April when he was attacked by four members of Baron von Richthofen's 'flying circus'. Shaw described it as a 'Hell of a scrap', but no one was hit. On 17 April he was promoted to lieutenant.

In May 1918, While flying in an Armstrong Whitworth (probably a FK8) he and his gunner, Lieutenant Alexander, shot down a German two seater Albatross. In July 2 Squadron began night bombing raids. A month later Shaw was briefly transferred to 5 Sqn, but he later returned to 2 Sqd before returning to England on leave. Shaw returned to his unit early September. On 28 December the squadron was heavily shelled and gassed. Shaw was wounded or gassed and was admitted to 33 Casualty Clearing Station at Chequers, France for ten days. He was then transferred to England for further treatment. After a few moths recovering he resumed flying in England and assisted in training American pilots.

Shaw returned to Australia after the war and continued flying, including a period in the late 1920s when he served with 3 Squadron RAAF in Richmond. Shaw was killed in a training accident on 8 April 1932 at Pittsworth, Queensland, while he was piloting a Gypsy Moth aircraft which failed to take off, striking a fence and nose diving into the ground. The trainee airman in the plane managed to escape the aircraft and attempted to get Shaw out, but could not due to the flames. It was later discovered that Shaw's legs had been broken in the crash and he had been unable to help himself escape.

The L31 was shot down on 1 October 1916 by Second Lieutenant Wulstan Tempest, 39 Squadron Royal Flying Corps. The crew of L31 were all killed, either by jumping from the flaming Zeppelin or burning to death. They were originally buried at Potters Bar, until their remains were moved to Cannock Chase in Staffordshire in the 1960s. Pieces of airships, especially Zeppelins, were a very popular souvenir in England. People travelled long distances to view the crash sites and purchase, or scavenge for pieces of the wreckages. At the site of the crash of SL11 pieces of the airship were sold by the Red Cross to raise money for wounded soldiers. The souvenirs proved so popular to visitors of the site at Cuffley that the Red Cross ran out of pieces of the SL11 and began selling pieces of the L31. While some pieces remained as they were found, other pieces of airships were turned items such as pieces of jewellery.