BX September 9, 1915

What Zeppelin Raid Over London Means in Death and Devastation – Sergt. B.J. Lester, of the Staff of the Canadian Cavalry Depot and Brantford Man, Was in London When the World’s Metropolis was Raided – Inmates of Almshouses Were Victims of German Bravery and Daring – Called to Address a Recruiting Meeting

The tragic result of a Zeppelin raid on London, in which the Baker’s Almshouses were apparently the object of attack, is graphically told by Sergt. B.J. Lester, of the staff of the Canadian Cavalry Depot, Canterbury, England, in a letter to his wife, Mrs. B.J. Lester, 56 Grey Street, Brantford, through whose courtesy The Expositor is enabled to reprint.

In the letter he tells of the marvelous escape of one of the inmates of the almshouse, and the tragic death of one still older, while his impressions of the havoc wrought are exceedingly interesting. He also tells vividly of being called on to address a recruiting meeting, his appeals to the young men to join the army resulting in a dozen husky men enlisting. The letter follows:

August 22, 1915

Sergt. B.J. Lester, 7708
Staff Canadian Cavalry Depot,
Canterbury, England

My Dear Wife,

This is the first opportunity I have had of writing to you for some time. I am still on the map at Canterbury. I guess you have read in the papers of the Zeppelin raid in East London, Eng., on August 17. Well I happened to be in London at that time about three miles from where the bombs dropped. It happened about 10.30 p.m. There were about ten bombs dropped – I counted eight. These exploded at the Baker’s Almshouses. One on a house, two which did not explode, in a park. It is fierce to see the damage the devils have done to poor people. Only one hit a house and this was completely wrecked. The other five exploded on the ground but caused a great deal of damage. It seems to me that every house in that district is damaged.

There were about ten people killed and thirty six injured all civilians. I had a walk to the place next morning. No person was allowed to enter where the bombs had dropped. Well I worked my ticket alright. I had to assist the police to keep the crowd back, and it was some job. Later on in the day I managed to see the Baker’s Almshouses. I guess you know what Almshouses are. They are built for old people. There were about one hundred houses with an iron fence all around them. A person cannot live in one till they are turned 60 years of age. Dear, I don’t want to see a sight like it again. There was an old lady of 86 years of age in the first house I went in. It is a wonder she is alive. As soon as she saw I was from Canada she said “God bless the Canadians.”  She then asked me if I would like to see the inside of her house. This lady was in bed at the time of the raid and cannot see how she escaped. All the roof and windows were piled on her bed and it was some job to get through to see it. This was only one house.

The next one I went into, an old lady of 88 was killed. I might say murdered – for it is nothing else but murder. I found a small shell and a piece of coral in her house. I am sending them home as a curio, also three small pieces of a German bomb which I found in a hole it had made. When I stood in this hole I could not see over the top. It must have been over six feet deep.

I believe there were some Germans living there. An old man said to me “Vot do you tink of dis?”  If I had been sure of him being a German it would have been “vot did he ting of me.”  It makes one’s blood boil to see poor old people suffer like this.
After I had a good look around I went outside. There was a recruiting band playing. I stopped to listen to it. After they had played several tunes a recruiting officer gave a speech and asked if there was any young man there who would join the army after seeing what the Germans had done. I was surprised to see so many young men around in civilian clothes and not one offered to sign on. I was then taken by surprise when the officer said, “We have a Canadian sergeant here, and I am going to ask him to say a few words to you.”  I was stage-struck right away. Anyway I had to do it. Well when I saw so many young men there I began to get warm and it was not long before I was red hot. I asked them if they had any backbone in them at all. I said “Think of the miles we have traveled to help to prevent things like this happening, leaving our loved ones behind and you young Englishmen stand and look on.”  That touched them. I had twelve big husky fellows in a very short time. When I finished speaking the people gave three hearty cheers for Canada. Believe me I was thirsty when I had finished. I soon fixed that, I had made lots of friends (we should worry).

Well dear, when I arrived in Canterbury I heard that the Zeppelins had been over there. They did not drop any bombs, or they might have received a warm reception if they had. The bombs were dropped in Leytonstone and Walthamstow. I will tell you more of this when I return. 

Please do not worry I am enjoying the very best of health, trusting you and baby are the same. All the Canadians are leaving Canterbury shortly. I cannot say where we are going at present. I will write you later. Please remember me to all my friends. I cannot write any more just now. Do not worry dear, the war is coming to an end.

Your loving husband,
Bert.