The BBC’s Timewatch history programme tonight broadcast a fascinating account of Britain’s first air raids – during the Great War. In January 1915, Sam Smith and Martha Taylor were the first civilians to be killed in an air raid when a Zeppelin airship dropped bombs on Great Yarmouth in Norfolk.

The Zeppelin raids were a huge shock to the British public. For the first time, their lives were at risk in their own homes. The number of people killed was small compared with the Second World War but a line had been crossed.

Perhaps the most poignant story was that of the 18 school children – 16 of whom were just five years old – killed in a daylight raid on Upper North Street school in Poplar, east London. Amazingly, the BBC found and interviewed a survivor of the tragedy, now in his 90s. 

The programme brought back memories for me. Growing up in the 1970s I bought a book on airships and read with awe the story of the first man to shoot down a Zeppelin, Reginald Warneford. The book was one in a children’s series – another was on submarines – which I had forgotten about until tonight. I wish I could remember the titles but I think the author was called Carrie.