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IN PICTURES: Zeppelin raid dead honoured with plaque

Fifteen people who died when German airships dropped bombs without warning 100 years ago will now have a permanent place of rest.

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A memorial peace garden was opened and a plaque unveiled in Wood Green Cemetery, Wednesbury, to remember those who were killed during the 1916 Zeppelin Raids.

Sunday's unveiling and service, led by Reverend Daniel Njuguna, was attended by Councillor Julie Webb, deputy mayor of Sandwell Council and the Wednesbury Naval Cadet Force.

West Bromwich MP Adrian Bailey laid a wreath at a grave, which lists the names of the 15 victims, including five children aged between eight and 12.

Wednesbury Poet Laureate, Brendan Hawthorne, read from the poem Two From Nine (Zeppelins Overhead) and Pauline Simms, who would have been the niece of 10-year-old bomb victim, Matilda Mary Burt, also paid her respects.

The garden was paid for the by the Friends of Wood Green Cemetery, in conjunction with the parishes of St Bartholomew's and St Paul's and the Royal British Legion.

Wednesbury North Councillor Peter Hughes, secretary of the friends group, speaking during the ceremony, said: "It is really good to see so many people turn out today to commemorate the people who were lost.

"The 15 men, women and children died so savagely when the Zeppelin bombs dropped 100 years ago today.

"We thought it was only right and proper we marked their deaths in the form of this peace garden."

The Germans had flown to Britain in the huge airships hoping to unload on Liverpool and Birkenhead docks to swing the First World War in their favour.

But when the pilots got lost they mistook the Black Country and its canal network for North West coast.

The order was given to drop their ammunition, which led the deaths of 15 people in Wednesbury, while 14 people were also killed in Tipton, four in Walsall and two in Bradley.

Councillor Webb said those who died would have simply been going about their daily lives before the bombs hit.

Wednesbury Road Congregational Church after the Zeppelin raid

She said: "People also suffered terrible injuries, lost family members and it is not lost on me that one of the Walsall victims was mayoress of the borough.

"Other people learned on that day how war can affect anyone and in the end no one wins.

"It also teaches us how we should strive for peace and in the world.

"While remembering the victims of the past we should also take time to think about peace now and in the future."

A presentation about the Zeppelin Raids was given by author Ian Bott in St Bartholomew's Church after the service.

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