Generations remember Zeppelin attack on Sunderland 100 years ago today

Dated: 01/04/2016 Mayor and Mayoress of Sunderland, Councillor Barry Curran and Carol Curran unveiling a memorial bench at the Wheatsheaf Green on the anniversary of the First World War zeppelin air raid attack which killed 22 people with (left to right) World War Two veteran Jack Watson, Sunderland Council Deputy Leader and Armed Forces Champion Cllr Harry Trueman, Julie Elliott MP, Chairman of Sunderland Armed Forces Network Cllr Graham Hall, Coldstream Guards Asc Fred Porter and World War Two veteran George Waller. #NorthNewsAndPictures/2daymedia/Craig Connor / NNP/North News & Pictures Ltd.
Photo: Mayor and Mayoress of Sunderland, Councillor Barry Curran and Carol Curran unveiling a memorial bench at the Wheatsheaf Green on the anniversary of the First World War zeppelin air raid attack which killed 22 people/ Photo by: North News Pictures Ltd.

Generations have come together to remember those who lost their lives in the First World War Zeppelin attack on Sunderland.

Today, (Friday, April 1) which is the 100th anniversary of the attack, the Mayor of Sunderland Councillor Barry Curran was joined by guests including community and veteran’s groups for a public unveiling of a memorial bench at the Wheatsheaf Green.

The Mayor of Sunderland, councillor Barry Curran, said: “It is hard to imagine what people must have experienced at the time with bombs raining down on their communities, and we need to commemorate both their suffering and their bravery facing such an attack.

The mayor then travelled with his guests to Monkwearmouth Station Museum for the launch of the ‘Zeppelin’ art structure created by children at Grange Park Primary.

Dated: 01/04/2016 Grange Park Primary School pupil Madison Eastick (10) with Mayor and Mayoress of Sunderland, Councillor Barry Curran and Carol Curran at Monkwearmouth Station Museum unveiling a Zeppelin art structure created by children from Grange Park Primary School on the anniversary of the First World War air raid attack which killed 22 people with (left to right) Time Bandits members Rosie Serdiville and Tony Hall, World War Two veterans Jack Watson and George Waller and Time Bandits member John Sadler. #NorthNewsAndPictures/2daymedia/Craig Connor / NNP/North News & Pictures Ltd.
Photo: Grange Park Primary School pupil Madison Eastick (10) with Mayor and Mayoress of Sunderland, Councillor Barry Curran and Carol Curran at Monkwearmouth Station Museum unveiling a Zeppelin art structure created by children from Grange Park Primary School/ Photo by: North News & Pictures Ltd.

As part of the project, Year Five children from Grange Park Primary in Swan Street have been inspired by historic re-enactment sessions and talks from the Time Bandits to think about how they would have felt during such a deadly attack on their community.

Subsequent workshops at the school with Infinite Arts, have translated the children’s thoughts into the paper artwork and creative writing, which forms part of the skin of the Zeppelin model unveiled and put on display at Monkwearmouth Station Museum.

Cllr Curran added: “The memorial bench provides the opportunity for people to sit and reflect on what happened, while our young people have used their creative talents to capture the emotions children must have experienced a hundred years to create the Zeppelin artwork.”

The programme of centenary commemorations of the First World War air raid attack which killed 22 people and injured many more has taken place from Thursday, March 31.

The station museum hosted ‘Zeppelin Attack!’ on Thursday , as they were one of the sites bombed on April 1.

It gave the chance for visitors to see displays commemorating the event and make a model of their own Zeppelin during drop-in sessions to take home.

The commemorations will finish on Saturday, April 2, with a chance for everyone to take part in a guided walk through the city centre 9.30 – 11.30am, to learn more about how the First World War affected Sunderland.

To book a free place please contact Anthony Hindmarch on 0191 561 4578.

The project was funded by Sunderland City Council’s North Area Committee and led by Museums, Heritage and Library Services working with Infinite Arts.

Comments are closed.