麻豆社

On the evening of 31 May 1915, Mr Albert Lovell left his home at 16 Alkham Road, Stoke Newington, to post a letter. When he returned, shortly after 11pm, the top floor of his house was ablaze.

A German incendiary bomb, dropped from Zeppelin LZ38, had smashed through the roof tiles and set fire to the rafters and the upper bedroom.

Two house guests were trapped inside and were eventually dragged, coughing and spluttering, onto the street.

This was the first time in history London had been attacked from the air.

As Zeppelin LZ38 made its way across the capital more bombs were dropped. Seven people were killed that night, four of them children.

Location: 16 Alkham Road, London N16
Image: The first bomb to hit London from the air, courtesy of IWM