Fragment of metal from Zeppelin L32 or L33 : Essex, 24 September 1916

Section of duraluminium (an aluminium alloy) framework from a German Zeppelin. The section is made up of an 'L' shaped piece of metal with three 'struts' riveted to it. Two of the struts are attached by the same two rivets, while the third is attached by another pair of rivets. Written on the framework in pencil is 'GERMAN ZEPPELIN BROUGHT DOWN WAR 1914 KENT ENGLAND'. 'RAIDER' is written on one of the struts.

The Zeppelin L32 was the first genuine German Zeppelin shot down over England during the First World War, early on the morning of 24 September 1916. A few weeks earlier, on 3 September, the first German airship had been shot down over London, the Schutte-Lanz SL11 (although it was not a Zeppelin, it was commonly referred to as one). L32 was shot down by Second Lieutenant Frederick Sowrey and crashed in flames at Great Burstead, near Billericay in Essex. All 22 members of the crew of were killed. Most died due to the flames, but some, including the airship's commander, Werner Peterson, chose to jump to their deaths. The crew was initially buried at Great Burstead until their remains were moved, together with those of the crews of SL11, L31 and L48, to be reinterred at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery in Staffordshire in the 1960s. Minutes after the L32 crashed, the Zeppelin L33 crash landed at New Hall Farm, Little Wigborough, also in Essex. The crew of L33 survived and became prisoners of war. Pieces of airships, especially Zeppelins, were a very popular souvenir in England. People travelled considerable distances to view the crash sites and purchase, or scavenge for pieces of the wreckage. Pieces of airship wrecks were sold to raise money for the war effort or war related charities.