Residents have gathered to mark the 100th anniversary of the first recorded air attack on Suffolk in the First World War.

Eastern Daily Press: Zeppelin Air Raid on LowestoftZeppelin Air Raid on Lowestoft (Image: Archant)

On the night of April 15-16 1915, a German Zeppelin carried out an air raid on Lowestoft.

Three bombs were dropped by an L5 airship - one in the gardens of numbers 46/47 and number 48 Denmark Road, one further down the same street and the third near Kimberley Road.

To commemorate the occasion, Lowestoft historian Bob Collis, along with the Lowestoft Aviation Society and the Jack Rose Old Lowestoft Society, organised a gathering where people remembered the event, re-enacted the pictures from the time and gathered close to where the original bomb crater was formed.

Mr Collis brought along a cardboard version of the Zeppelin bomb and also gave a talk about the raid to keen members of the public.

Eastern Daily Press: Lowestoft historian Bob Collis marking the 100th anniversary of the Zeppelin bomb raids. Picture: James BassLowestoft historian Bob Collis marking the 100th anniversary of the Zeppelin bomb raids. Picture: James Bass

The only human casualty in the raids was an 18-year-old girl named Katie Crawford, who died a few months later on August 9, when a bomb struck a house on Lovewell Road.

A special guest at the event was Yvonne Lead, the niece of Miss Crawford - and she was presented with a framed picture along with some key information about the bomb.

Mrs Lead said: 'It was lovely and unexpected. I didn't know much about my aunt.

'I have seen one photograph of her and that was it. Only once I was ever told what happened to her and that was because I asked.'

Eastern Daily Press: Zeppelin Timber YardZeppelin Timber Yard (Image: Archant)

Mr Collis said: 'The event was great and meeting Mrs Lead was a privilege and an honour. The Denmark Road crater is probably one of the most photographed bomb-sites in the history of our town.

'All we have left are the pictures from a century ago and the knowledge that while the inhabitants of our town could not have envisaged it then, that first raid in 1915 was but the forerunner of a terrible rain of death and destruction from the air that was to follow 25 years later.'

Roger Smith, chairman of the Lowestoft Aviation Society added: 'I think it is great that people are interested in the history of the town.'

Ian Robb, secretary of the Jack Rose Old Lowestoft Society, said: 'It is lovely that people gathered and it is vitally important that we remember the heritage of Lowestoft.'

•Are you commemorating an historic event? Email joe.randlesome@archant.co.uk