Fragment of metal from Zeppelin L31 : Corporal R Wain, 19 Battalion AIF

Piece of duraluminium (an aluminium alloy) rib from German Zeppelin L31. The piece is stained and has been torn from the framework of the Zeppelin. On the reverse is written 'PIECE OF "ZEPPELIN" Z24 WHICH WAS BROUGHT DOWN OVER LONDON 1-10-16'. (This text was erroneous - Although Zeppelin Z24 took part in the first raid on England, she was lost over the North Sea 18 months before the L31 was shot down in October 1916.

The L31 was shot down on 1 October 1916 by Second Lieutenant Wulstan Tempest, 39 Squadron Royal Fling Corps. The crew of L31 were all killed, either by jumping from the flaming Zeppelin or burning to death. They were originally buried at Potters Bar, until their remains were moved to Cannock Chase in Staffordshire in the 1960s. Pieces of airships, especially Zeppelins, were a very popular souvenir in England. People came from far and wide to view the crash sites and purchase, or scavenge for pieces of the wreckages. At the site of the crash of SL11 pieces of the airship were sold by the Red Cross to raise money for wounded soldiers. The souvenirs proved so popular to visitors of the site at Cuffley that the Red Cross ran out of pieces of the SL11 and began selling pieces of the L31. While some pieces remained as they were found, other pieces of airships were turned items such as pieces of jewelry.

4261 Sergeant Robert Wain was born in Sydney. He worked as a shearer before enlisting in the AIF on 10 December 1915. Wain embarked for England, via Egypt with the 10th reinforcements of 19 Battalion in HMAT Orsova on 11 March 1916. In October 1916 Wain was on leave when the German Zeppelin L31 was shot down. Wain collected this piece of duraluminium frame from the site of the crash. Wain had been an acting NCO, but reverted to private in November 1916. In April 1917 he was promoted to sergeant. On 3 May he was wounded in the right knee and was evacuated back to England. He rejoined his unit in France in May 1918, before falling ill and being admitted to hospital. Wain rejoined his unit in July and was wounded a second time on 8 August 1918, in the left thigh. He was evacuated to England. Upon his recovery he was transferred to 3 Battalion in December 1918 and returned to France. He returned to England where he was attached to AIF Headquarters in April. On 23 April 1919 he married Ettie Evelyn Hockley at Barton Mills in Suffolk. He disembarked in Australia on 10 August 1919 and was discharged in July 1920. Wain served again in the Second World War with 2/2 Australian Boring Platoon with the service number NX72681.