A visible reminder of the German air attacks on the UK in the First World War is the damage to one of the Sphinx's that flank Cleopatra's Needle at Embankment, London. On the night of 4th/5th September 1917, the first night time raid on London by German aircraft was taking place (not first raid, as the plaque says).
Eleven Gotha G.V's set off to attack, however only nine attacked, only five of those hitting London, the others hitting Suffolk, Margate and Dover.
Nineteen were killed that night by the attack, and one Gotha went missing, presumably shot down by anti aircraft fire, but searches proved fruitless as nothing was found of it, despite apparently receiving a direct hit and diving towards the River Medway.
Just before midnight, one of four bombs intended for the nearby Charing Cross station hit the road just alongside the right hand (looking from the land, unless you happen to be taking a swim) Sphinx.
The blast and bomb fragments damaged the pedestal of Cleopatra's needle (it was having work done to it when these were taken in 2008 so not visible) and also the plinth of the right hand Sphinx. The sphinx also has chunks missing from its paws and side as testament to the raid.
As well as damaging the Sphinx and Cleopatra's Needle, a tram was hit by the bomb, killing two passengers and the conductor. The blast was so severe a whole was made in the road under which the circle/district underground line could be seen (this line was built using the 'cut and cover' method so was only a few metres under the surface at the most)
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