John Fraser came from a nautical family and travelled extensively, like his contemporary John Everett. It is not known where he received his artistic training but he worked for some time as assistant to Edouardo de Martino, marine painter to Queen Victoria, Edward VII and George V. This dark, sombre picture, however, is not a marine painting at all but records a night-time zeppelin raid on London during the First World War. The zeppelin can be faintly seen, illuminated by searchlights and the glow of fire above the house on the right. This type of attack was entirely new and, as can be seen from the vehicles, street-lamp and domestic lights of the houses, the idea of 'blackout' had not yet been imposed.

There is some uncertainty around the date of the raid depicted here. The title traditionally associated with this painting gives the date as 8 October 1915. However, it has been suggested that October has here been erroneously substituted for September. A major raid was indeed undertaken by LZ45(3) on 8 September 1915; it was notable as the first to bomb central London. Another version of the painting, currently in the collection of the Defence Academy at Shrivenham, gives the date of the raid as 8 September 1915. In 2008, the Museum also learnt of another version in private hands, signed and inscribed 'Camden Road, 5 October 1915'. That one has two figures in the lower left corner and it is possible that the Camden Road in north London is the location shown, presumably looking southward. The Museum version is just signed 'J. Fraser', lower left.