The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Sir Charles Wakefield’s Gold Medal for the Shooting Down of Zeppelin ‘L15’ (Sapper H. M. Earl), 29mm., 9ct. gold, hallmarks for Birmingham 1916, in Mappin & Webb, London case of issue, extremely fine £450-550

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Prize, Training Ship, Nursing & Other Medals from the James N. Spencer Collection.

View
Collection

Ex B.D.W. 5 November 1991, lot 236.

These gold medals were awarded as the result of a bounty of £500 offered by Sir Charles Wakefield to the first gun crew to shoot down a Zeppelin on domestic soil. Due to the fact that a number of gun crews were involved in shooting down the L15, it was decided that the money would instead be spent on the production of gold medals to present to each individual member of the crews involved.

The Zeppelin L15 was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire over London on the night of 31 March - 1 April, 1916. The Zeppelin plunged into the sea a mile from the Kentish Knock Lightship shortly after midnight. The 17 survivors were taken aboard H.M.S. Vulture, but not before being stripped naked by order of the ship’s Captain.