'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' — the Tower of London poppies — each of the 888,246 ceramic poppies representing one serviceman of the British Empire killed in World War I. The installation was a collaboration of artist Paul Cummins and stage designer Tom Piper. Since November, 2014 the poppies have been installed in other sites in the United Kingdom. Photographed October 3, 2014. © 2014 by John M. Shea
"So well was London guarded from hostile air craft that the zeppelins were denied access to the areas above the metropolis until May 31st [1915], ten months after the opening of the War. Near midnight on that day, several zeppelins appeared above the city, raining down shells upon the city and killing six persons.In reprisal the citizens of London declared a boycott upon every person having a name of German origin; German shops were looted, German homes were attacked, and rioting took place in many districts where Germans were numerous."
The prevailing winds and stormy weather provided some of London's defense against Zeppelin air raids. Most aircraft were as yet unable to operate at the altitudes at which the airships did.
King's Complete History of the World War by W.C. King, page 155, copyright © 1922, by W.C. King, publisher: The History Associates, publication date: 1922
1915-05-31, 1915, May, Zeppelin, London, Zeppelin raid, looting
