Airship Souvenirs

[pjw4118]

I came across these in a search of the IWM archives.

The caption states... NZ Army Medical Corps recover souvenirs from the German LZ85 airship.









This was shot down on 6 May 1916 by gunfire from HMS Agamemnon and crashed in the marshes of the River Vardar Macedonia

Having located the Vardar in Greece I wonder what were NZ medical corp doing in Greece. they certainly had the Kiwi spirit, nicking stuff but did any of it come back home?

[Dave Homewood]

Fascinating photos.

Didn't the NZ Army have one of their hospitals in Greece for a while in WWI?

[kiwithrottlejockey]

I've got two interesting books about the Zeppelins in one of my bookcases...

• The Zeppelin in Combat: A History of the German Naval Airship Division

• Zeppelin: The Story of the Zeppelin Airships

[ErrolC]

It is clear that hats are more important than pants!

[davidd]

Don't think I would be too keen wading about in all that muddy water with those sharp bits of aluminium all about the place, and God-knows what sort of diseases inhabiting those semi-tropical swamps. Although nothing is visible, they may in fact have some sort of footwear on, at least I hope they do. Still, they really are great photos. I take it that this airship lost all its fabric due to a flash fire, or had it been lying in the swamp for some time? Or had others already stripped it off for onward sale to souvenir hunters!
David D

[pjw4118]

Theres quite bit on line www2.wbs.ne.jp/~s-c/airships/zeppelin.htm.
I didnt realise the size or range of the super Zeppelins , nor how many were built. Interesting stuff. Google has more under LZ85