“The Sky Was Lurid With Flames”
Operation Türkencreuz - the WW1 Bomber Raids on London
 Ian Castle
A lecture and sandwich lunch
12.30-2.00pm Tuesday 21st January 2014
Hosted by
The Fusiliers Museum London in the
Officer's Mess of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
HM Tower of London

The "First Blitz", the aerial bombardment of London and other British towns 1914-8 was the first strategic aerial bombing campaign in history. It was largest battle on the British Home Front in the First World War.  The historian and author Ian Castle is a member of the Battlefields Trust project team which is organising a project to record and present this heritage as part of the First World War Centenary Campaign. http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/page110.asp  We need to raise a million pounds.to undertake this work and have arranged this talk to raise awareness and funds. 

The talk will consider the bomber raids first launched against London in 1917 by the German Army after its decision to abandon Zeppelin attacks on the capital. As well as the raids themselves, the talk will explore Britain’s response, from the home defence organisations and the government to the population of London itself.

Ian Castle has been studying military history for almost 30 years now and has written 12 books as well as co-authoring another five titles. He also regularly contributes articles to magazines and journals. For the last ten years his main research focus has been the WW1 air raids on Britain, leading to the publication of his books,  London 1914-17: The Zeppelin Menace and London 1917-18: The Bomber Blitz. He regularly advises media organisations on aspects of the First Blitz, particularly now as we approach the forthcoming WW1 centenary commemorations.

Our hosts will be the Fusiliers Museum and the event includes a sandwich lunch a glass of wine and the opportunity to network in the exclusive surroundings of the Fusiliers mess in HM Tower of London. 

If you would like to attend this lunchtime talk, please make a donation of £25 for each attendee (£20 for members of the Battlefields Trust) and email your name, contact number and any special requirements (dietary/mobility) to helen@battlefieldstrust.org On receipt, email confirmation will be sent together with directions to the venue. If you have any questions, please ring 0207 387 6620. We look forward to welcoming you. 

In order for you to receive a pass into the Tower of London itself and book your sandwiches, you must book at least 48 hours before the talk.  

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