Yesterday we left two wrecked Zeppelins in Essex early on the morning of 24th September 1916. The Irish Guards were sent to secure the area around the burnt-out remains of L32 not far from Billericay.
Evidence of this is provided by R.L. Rimmell in The Last Flight of the L32:
Those who had guarded the site – the Irish Guards, those from other regiments, policemen and fire officials – later turned many items into rings, discs and crosses and “were not short of cash for some while”.
There is also an eyewitness account from Sergeant James McDiarmid of the Glasgow Yeomanry. Here is part of what he wrote to his brother from the Field Post office, Woodham Mortimer on 25th September, 1916.
There were thousands of soldiers arrived during the day. We relieved the Irish Guards in the morning and then three regiments of cavalry arrived and relieved us in the evening at 6 p.m.
Of course it is possible that Rimmell’s source is McDiarmid. That’s as far as the history books take us so it’s time to turn to some family history. The Irish Guards contingent was commanded by 2nd Lt. Richard Courtenay (he was always known by the latter name) Bellew, my grandfather’s half-brother. Courtenay had just turned eighteen. In the course of his duties he acquired two valves from the wreckage as a souvenir. Also, according to my grandfather, he got into a spot of trouble. Here is what my grandfather wrote to me on 26th September 1980.
When brother Courtenay was guarding the Zeppelin his orders were let no one near except army, Red Cross, etc. Two very important civilians arrived (possibly the PM) and demanded to be allowed in. Courtenay refused. They then complained to his Colonel who told off Courtenay for being too officious.
Who were these two big-wigs? There is a photograph of David Lloyd George (Secretary of State for War) and Arthur Balfour ( First Lord of the Admiralty) inspecting the wreckage of L33 at Little Wigborough. Had they tried to see the wreckage of L32?
Courtenay was posted to France in 1917 and died on 21st August less than a fortnight after he arrived. He is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium. I have visited his grave.
What became of the valves? That’s another story for another day but there are two other things in my grandfather’s letter that are typical of him.
Fortune has favoured you over Ultramar shares – don’t play it up too far!
I took his advice, selling them on 30th September having only held them for 22 days. I cleared a 17% profit. I would never be such a short-term jobber these days.
Don’t forget to sign your gun licence before you come back.
My grandfather was ninety when he wrote this letter and firing on all cylinders.
L7
On May 4th 1916 the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, under the command of my grandfather, then a Commodore, shot down Zeppelin L7 over the North sea. The wreck was then destroyed by RN submarine E 31. Of this exploit Beatty wrote to his wife “You will have seen in the papers that we have succeeded in bagging one Zeppelin. It was a good bit of work, well done by Sinclair,and eminently satisfactory that it should have been the 1st LCS that did it, as they are all good and the only squadron that had not been blooded”. ( Beatty was a keen hunting man).
No DSO, but my grandfather was awarded the CB.