The Graf Zeppelin Over Southampton (Ethel Irene Moore)

On Tuesday the 18^th of August 1931, a low humming sound over Southampton brought people out of their homes. As they looked to the skies, an incredible sight met them. The Graf Zeppelin airship. It was 236 metres long and travelling at almost 80 miles an hour. A marvel of German engineering.

The sight was so awe-inspiring and possibly even shocking, that a young woman from Southampton collapsed and died within moments of seeing the airship. Her name was Ethel Irene Moore. The circumstances of her untimely and unfortunate death are reported towards the end of this article, but first, here’s some background to the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin’s flight over Southampton.

LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin

LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin was a German hydrogen-filled rigid airship that entered service as a passenger carrier in 1928 and would continue as a commercial concern until 1937. She was the first airship to offer commercial transatlantic passenger flights. The Graf Zeppelin was the brainchild of Hugo Eckener, the head of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin and was named after Ferdinand von Zeppelin, a German nobleman and aviation pioneer.

During its service, Graf Zeppelin completed 590 flights, travelling more than one million miles). She had a crew of 36 and could accommodate 24 passengers. At the time of its construction, it was the world’s largest and longest airship. Notably, it became the first airship to circumnavigate the globe and to cross the Pacific Ocean non-stop.

Between 1928 and 1932, Graf Zeppelin undertook several extended flights, including one to the Arctic. From 1932 to 1937, it operated a commercial passenger and mail service between Germany and Brazil. With the rise of the Nazi Party, the airship was utilized for propaganda purposes (as was the Hindenburg). Following the Hindenburg disaster in 1937, Graf Zeppelin was retired and eventually dismantled in April 1940 for military aircraft production.

August 18, 1931

At 8pm, Tuesday 18^th August, the Graf Zeppelin took off from Hanworth Air Park (also known as London Air Park), a grass airfield in the grounds of Hanworth Park House in Feltham, west of London. She’d arrived earlier that day from France on an official flight to London. Excited passengers had their tickets checked, boarded the airship, and took their seats for what was to be a round Britain flight.

Graf Zeppelin at Hanworth London Air Park — The Graf Zeppelin seen parked at Hanworth / London Air Park in 1931.

The Graf Zeppelin’s 1931 flight path saw her fly down to Brighton, across to Southampton, then west to Bournemouth, and by midnight out over Hartland Point on the Devon coast. She then travelled to Ireland, back to the English coastline from west to east, and south again, before arriving back at Hanworth on the 19^th of August. It was on the Southampton leg of the journey that tragedy would strike.

It’s fair to assume that most people living in Southampton would not have seen an airship before. Not that Southampton locals weren’t used to seeing gigantic vessels: the Titanic at 269 metres long, had left the port on its ill-fated trip. Whilst the Graf Zeppelin didn’t quite reach that length, at 236 metres, it wasn’t far off.

Graf Zeppelin 1931 — The Graf Zeppelin at Hanworth in 1931.

Seeing an airship of this size, travelling at speeds of nearly 80 miles per hour, would have been a fantastical sight for people of all ages in Southampton, young and old.

At just nineteen years of age, Ethel Irene Moore fell into the young category . She worked as a grocer’s assistant, living at 2 Pasadena Cottages, New Road, Netley (I believe this address is now 97 or 99 New Road, Netley). Upon hearing the Graf Zeppelin, she ran from her house to get a better look, as the airship flew down Southampton water.

97 to 99 New Road Netley — 99 New Road in Netley (house on right) was the home of Ethel Irene Moore in 1931. (Google Maps)

The Hampshire Advertiser reported what happened next:

EXCITEMENT CAUSES DEATH: Netley Girl’s Hurry to See Zeppelin

Whilst running excitedly with friends to watch the Graf Zeppelin flying over Southampton Water on Tuesday night, Miss Ethel Irene Moore of 2 Pasadena Cottages, New Road, Netley, collapsed. She was taken to the Prince Consort Hotel close by where she passed away within a few minutes.

Miss Moore was the daughter of Mr. William Moore, a carpenter, and Mrs. Moore, and considerable sympathy is felt for them.

She was a bright girl, employed as assistant at Mr. E. S. Rogers’ grocery in Station Road, Netley. Miss Moore was with a boyfriend, Mr. Jack Boole. at the time, and was accompanied by Miss Elsie Gertrude Moore, a sister, Mr. Fred Kearne, and Miss Gladys Houghton.

She had been attended regularly for some years by Dr. Loughlin, of Woolston, for chronic heart trouble. Dr. Basil Howard Tripp, captain, R.A.M.C., happened to be staying in the hotel at the time, and on examining her could only pronounce life extinct.

A sister, Miss Charlotte Moore, aced 21, died suddenly seven years ago. An examination of her body revealed no organic trouble, but a doctor arrived at the conclusion that she died following nightmare and described her case as “one in a thousand”.

She had collapsed outside the Prince Consort on Victoria Road in Netley. Tragically, her parents had lost another child named Charlotte, a few years before under similar circumstances.

Ethel’s funeral was conducted by Reverend W.E. Henty Summers on Friday August 28. Her three brothers and brother in law were bearers.

Five years later, an even bigger airship would fly over Southampton. But this one would have swastikas displayed on it, and was a portent of the war that was to come.