The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit in our lifetime. — Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, 3 August 1914
An exhibition at The Collection, an arts cum museum complex, looking at Lincoln in World War One.
England was vulnerable, airships launched by the German Navy, dropping bombs on England, were untouchable, at too high an altitude to be reached by the existing British warplanes.
The next generation of planes could fly at higher altitude, and used incendiary bullets.
British aircraft were operated by the Army and the Navy. These were amalgamated to create the Royal Air Force.
Lincoln had three manufacturing plants, these were crucial to the war effort, and Lincoln became one of the centres of not only aircraft manufacture, but also of the engines and the bombs.
Lincoln was where at Fosters, the WWI tank was developed and built.
These engineering factories have long gone, in their place sheds on the inner-bypass selling worthless consumer junk, tacky chain coffee shops. Where once there was highly skilled well paid jobs, now temporary, part time, zero hours work.
Within the exhibition clothes, black and white film of the period, paintings (though no date or information on the artists), medals (including the Victoria Cross and German Iron Cross).
The first VC to be awarded was to a pilot William Leef Robinson for shooting down a Zeppelin airship.
Surprising no mention of the airship disaster at Washingborough. An airship was spotted, passengers rushed to one side of the Washingborough Ferry crossing the River Witham causing it to collapse.
The night before, a Zeppelin bombed Washingborough, mistaking for Lincoln. The Zeppelin was following a train, and may have thought it was Lincoln when the train stopped.
St John’s Church in Washingborough has unique Zeppelin Memorial Window put in by the Rector William Burland.
Note: No pictures thanks to copyright mafia.
If visiting the exhibition, visit the Tourist Information Centre in Castle Hill at the top of Steep Hill and pick up a 20% off voucher.
Also worth a visit, International Bomber Command Centre and the Museum of Lincolnshire Life.
Coffee at Stokes at The Collection is not recommended. There are better coffee shops nearby, Base Camp on Steep Hill, Madame Waffle in the High Street and Coffee Aroma in Guildhall (through The Stonebow), all within a few minutes walk.
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