Zeppelin air raids over Scotland
(NRS reference: HH31/21/8)

Transcript: 

…I beg to state that about 11.25pm Sunday 2nd April 1916, a Zeppelin was sighted crossing the Firth of Forth… coming towards Leith Docks, and on arriving over the Edinburgh Dock, the first bomb (explosive) was dropped into the water… and sank two small rowing boats, and broke several skylight windows in two Danish sailing vessels lying in the dock nearby.

... the fifth bomb (explosive) fell on the edge of the quay of the harbour, damaging the quay wall near to the Custom House, and breaking a large number of windows in shops, offices and dwelling houses in that vicinity.

The sixth bomb (explosive) fell on the roof of the tenement at 2 Commercial Street destroying part of the roof and wall on the top flat. A piece of shell struck and killed a man… 66 years of age, residing in the top flat.

The seventh bomb (incendiary) fell through the roof at 14 Commercial Street into a room occupied by an old woman and through the floor of her house into the house underneath where it burst into flame. The old woman referred to calmly got out of bed and poured water through the hole made by the bomb and extinguished the fire, and thus prevented a serious fire. 

…The eleventh bomb (explosive) fell on the roof of a whisky bond belonging to Innes & Grieve, wholesale spirit merchants, setting fire to the bond which was entirely destroyed. …There were also a large number of windows in shops and dwelling houses in this vicinity broken. The premises were not insured against aircraft.

The twelfth bomb (incendiary) fell through the roof of the tenement at 15 Church Street into a house occupied by a soldier’s wife and three children, and through the floor of this house into the house underneath occupied by a man and his wife and five children. Both houses were set on fire and a good deal of damage done before the fire was extinguished. None of the occupants of the houses were injured.

… The thirteenth bomb (incendiary) fell on the roof of St Thomas’ church manse in Mill Lane, setting fire to the manse which was practically destroyed. Damage estimated at £1,000. The minister, his wife and servant were all in bed and had a miraculous escape.

…The eighteenth bomb (explosive) fell in a court at 200 Bonnington Road breaking windows and damaging doors. A child, one year old son of Robert Robb, residing there was killed in bed by a piece of shell which came in by the window.