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During the night of 31 January 1916, a German Zeppelin airship dropped bombs on Derby; killing five people. On the night of the raid the Sampson and Hancock factory on King Street was firing a kiln. S and H is now part of Royal Crown Derby.

When the air-raid siren was sounded the kiln fires had to be dowsed and it was not known if the contents would be ruined or not.

When the kiln was opened the contents, around 100 pieces, were found to have fired well. In memory of the event the whole kiln load was marked with an airship and moon mark.

There are two pieces in the museum and Royal Crown Derby, and a couple of others in private collections.

What happened to all one hundred pieces in unknown.

Location: Royal Crown Derby, Osmaston Road, Derby DE23 8JZ
Image: Zeppelin marks on Royal Crown Derby china, courtesy of Jacqueline Smith