In Finland, Soviet forces were preparing for a major offensive against the Finnish defences along the Mannerheim Line. In the west, Germany began to finalise plans for an invasion of Denmark and Norway.

Winter struck Caithness hard this week. Ice and snow froze the lade [or channel] bringing water to the harbour and blocking it, so that workmen had to be employed to clear it.

The County Director of Education, in replying to a letter about instructing children about the protection of wild birds, in passing confirmed that “there are no official evacuees in this county”.

Some children had previously been evacuated from Caithness to North Berwick (in week 14 we saw that they weren’t allowed home for Christmas because of the fear of air raids); now their parents were putting pressure on the Education Service to bring them back. “The parent informed me that he was anxious to keep his boy ‘beside themselves’ until they could see what was likely to happen”.

Food rationing was now in its third week, and obviously affected schools and hospitals as well as individuals. Staxigoe School (near Wick) recorded in its log book for 22 January: “Circular received cancelling previous one re rationed cooking materials. Applications now to be lodged with local Food Control Officer & the list to be submitted to Education Committee.”

News came this week of the first Caithness airman to be reported missing in the war. Fight Sergeant Thomas Kerr’s plane went into the sea off the Isle of Man, and the family were anxiously waiting to see if the crew had been rescued. Before the war Thomas Kerr had been a road engineer working for the Council.

The question of allotments in Caithness was raised again this week when “Norseman” in the John O’Groat Journal questioned the need to convert Bignold Park in Wick to cultivation, given that, after the last war, “it was ruined for recreational purposes for years afterwards”. The writer concludes, “I think it would be a bad business if the Town Council were to be hustled into a decision which does not have regard to those post-war conditions which may not be so far away after all”.

Coming soon! Week 22, 29 January - 4th February 1940, will be published on Monday 28th January 2013. To view previous issues please use the menus on the right hand side of the page. 

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