A day that shall live in infamy.

Dear reader, some startling news, We at PCbyCP lift the lid on the devastating Zeppelin raids that wrought havoc on Melbourne during the dark days of World War One. Hushed by the official secrets act, this villainous act has only come to light after a tip off from none other than those entrusted with our national security within the National Defence Establishment. The raid, hushed until now occurred on a Sunday, and as a consequence Melbourne, (then officially deserted) suffered only material damage whilst the civilian population escaped unscathed.

Artists impression of Melbourne under attack from Zeppelins and Albatros fighters. Until now kept secret but referred to unofficially as ‘The Black Sunday prior to the other Black Sunday”.

Official Site of New memorial. Sailor is standing on precisely the spot where Miss Irene Twaddle (RVNR) died in service to her country.

The entire complement of aircraft then available from RAAF Point Cook (then the Royal Flying Corps) were committed to intercept the raid by Zeppelins from Luftflotte V1 and fighter aircraft from Kampfgeshwader 1XV which as the official enquiry suggests; “came from nowhere” and in ‘seconds flat’ the aged Be2’s and Se5A’s were ‘shot from the skies’. Those who sacrificed their lives in valiant defense, two pilots, their trusty mascot “snuffles”, and a Ministry of Air Defence stenographer, (Miss Ira Twaddle), who died when hit by a falling typewriter (hurled from Zeppelin 264 by an over-excited war correspondent) shall be remembered in a memorial to be constructed under the portico of Flinders Street Station.

‘Snuffles’ mascot to RFC Point Cook.

The memorial designed by the “Lest we Forget” Anzac, Gallipoli and Eternal Flame sub-committee of the National Perpetual Remembrance Office have instigated an international competition, with prize money of several hundred million dollars to design construct and install a memorial to commemorate this historic event. The memorial is to be placed at precisely the exact spot where the typewriter fell. After extensive consultation it was agreed that under the arch of Flinders Street was a perfect place to signify another significant episode in the glorious martial tradition of Australia. As the official citation suggests; “there is just no more room along St Kilda Road nor along Anzac Avenue in Canberra as those sites are already chocka-block with grand memorials commemorating the heroic landing at Gallipoli, the sacrifice of all world wars and the proliferation of glorious heroic involvement that must be celebrated by Australians for all the wars we’ve obligingly got ourselves involved in service to our more powerful and intelligent allies  ever since’.

Proposed memorial plaque to Funnel Web Spiders. Volunteer Observer Corps. ” They also Serve”.

As a consequence of this raid, “the first ever invasion on Australian soil”, border security was significantly upgraded with the establishment of an early warning system of observation posts ringing all capital cities. Until recently this network, as precursor to radar has operated to ensure that Australia remains, ‘Safe” from surprise attack. The cordon of early warning stations, code named, ‘Stealth’ consisted of ingeniously constructed platforms in trees. The platforms camouflaged by official war artists were manned by an observer, a greyhound, a homing pigeon and a funnel web spider. In the event of an approaching Zeppelin, the observer would throw the greyhound “overboard” release the pigeon, and activate the funnel web spider release mechanism to protect the platform from enemy agents. Thus by air and land the authorities would be warned.

‘Chocka Block with remembrance’. No more room for memorials along Anzac Avenue.

There is to be a memorial constructed on each site to commemorate the sacrifice, as yet unsung, by pigeons and greyhounds who also served. As yet there is nothing planned to commemorate the service of the funnel web spiders, who ultimately expired in service to their country and remain un-remembered in un- marked graves.

Lest we Forget.