Edinburgh experienced Scotland’s first air attack during World War One. On the evening of 2 April 1916, two Zeppelins reached the Firth of Forth while heading for the Royal Navy Base at Rosyth in Fife.
Warning of the impending air raid was received at 7pm, and the police in Leith and the City of Edinburgh instituted air raid precautions: the Electric Light Department lowered all lights, traffic was stopped and lights on vehicles were extinguished. The Central Fire Station and the Red Cross were notified and all policemen, regular and specials, were called up.
But lost in the darkness, the lumbering airships instead made towards Edinburgh city centre. Over 35 minutes, the drones of Zeppelins L14 and L22 were punctuated with 24 explosions – bombs which killed 13 people and injured 24.
The first reports of bombs exploding were received by the police just before midnight. The L14, having crossed over the coast at St Abbs Head in Berwickshire on route for Rosyth and the Forth Railway Bridge, was unable to see its targets and dropped its bombs over Leith and the centre of Edinburgh. The L22 crossed over the mainland at Newcastle and dropped its bombs over the south of the city.
The incident was the greatest loss of civilian lives from a German attack on Scottish soil during World War One.
Artist’s Response
Through researching Scotland’s first air raid, I was able to grasp an impression of people’s lives before, after and during the incident. Many indications were found in the press, and some detailed descriptions of the circumstance of the city and its atmosphere.
I wanted to emphasise through the piece the chaos caused by bombing for those who had experienced it. There were indications of window frames, broken glass, stones and more all smashed and filling the room. One victim had a bomb coming through his roof and hitting him while he was in bed. And people were suffering from shock and stress for months afterwards. Hence I experimented with various materials to make my collagraph plate in an attempt to produce a textured scene to communicate all those elements.
Yuanghong (Mary) Chang
4Th (Final) Year Illustration
Edinburgh College Of Art
www.yhchangillustration.com
Instagram: @yhc_noctem
Yuanghong graduated with a degree in Illustration from Middlesex University and is currently studying MA Illustration at the University of Edinburgh.
