Fragment of metal from Zeppelin : Sergeant S H Ayliffe, 32 Battalion AIF

Small molten piece of duraluminium (aluminium alloy) from the framework of a German Zeppelin.

Piece of duraluminium from a German airship, downed near London in 1916. The piece is possibly from the Zeppelin L31, which was shot down by Second Lieutenant Wulstan Tempest, 39 Squadron Royal Fling Corps at Potters Bar on 1 October 1916. This piece was collected by Lieutenant Stuart Hamilton Ayliffe. Ayliffe was 22 years old when he enlisted on 1 June 1915 and was allocated the service number 3. Sergeant Ayliffe was recorded as single and listed his mother, Charlotte Ayliffe as his next of kin. However he seems to have married soon after as he organised for money to be allocated to hs wife, Eva May Ayliffe from July 1915. Sergeant Ayliffe embarked from Adelaide, SA aboard HMAT Geelong on 18 November 1915 with A Company of 32 Battalion, arriving in Egypt in December. By then the Gallipoli Campaign had ended, so after a period of training and time in hospital with the mumps in Egypt, Ayliffe departed for France with his unit in June 1916. On 21 July 1916 Ayliffe was wounded in the left shoulder. He was transferred to England where he remained for a number of months recovering. Ayliffe then served in England until April 1917 when he returned to France. after several months with his unit he went to Officer's Training College in England. In May 1918 he was commissioned second lieutenant and returned to France. In August 1918 he was promoted to lieutenant. On 29 September 1918 Ayliffe was wounded a second time in the shoulder and chest. He was again admitted to hospital in England. Ayliffe returned to Australian aboard HT Lancashire, departing England on 7 February 1919. On 18 May his appointment in the AIF was terminated. Stuart Ayliffe died on 26 May 1947. 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. They 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.