Week 73: 20-26 January 1941
On 21 January British and Australian troops attacked Tobruk and captured it next day, along with 25,000 prisoners, 236 artillery pieces and 23 tanks, for the loss of 400 men. In the Mediterranean the Luftwaffe targeted British shipping supplying Malta and finally forced HMS Illustrious to leave the area for repairs. And in East Africa, British forces attacked Italian Somaliland.
Heavy snow storms continued to batter Caithness this week. Thrumster School recorded in its log book on 22 January: “The weather to-day was exceptionally stormy, with driving sleet & snow, & though fifteen children put in an appearance it was decided to mark no attendance and dismiss school at 10.30am.”
Stemster School was also badly affected all week. On 22 January the head teacher noted, “School impossible; intensive drifting; roads blocked.” Two days later, “4 pupils present to-day. This week owing to blocked roads & tracks through fields has been a “washout” as regards attendance & progress.”
The realities of war meant that the Caithness survivors of the HMS Jervis Bay, who had recently been home on leave and honoured in a civic reception, were now back on active duty. As the John O’Groat Journal reported, at the same time as the seven Caithness Naval Reservists returned to duty, another survivor of the Jervis Bay, Donald Bain, returned home after hospital treatment in Canada – but only for a month’s leave.
On 23 January P.C. Kennedy on duty in Dunbeath telephoned the authorities in Wick to report a torpedo: “I have just been informed by Donald Murray, Senior, Ramscraigs, Dunbeath, and Donald Sutherland, Roadside, Ramscraigs, Dunbeath, that this morning they observed a torpedo lying on the shore at Ramscraigs, Dunberath. They stated that it was possible that the torpedo might be washed out with the next tide, and that if the Naval Authorities wished to examine it they would require to attend to it immediately.”
Finally this week, the John O’Groat Journal reported on the Old New Year ball held in support of the Caithness Prisoners of War Fund. Over 300 people had packed into the Breadalbane Hall to see four girls come in singing and carrying gas-masks, followed by Father Time. He was interrupted by an air raid siren and the entry of Spirit of the Year “(Miss Ruby Bain), a sprightly figure”. A large bomb then appeared: “All eyes were on the [High Explosive] as it slowly descended. “Crash!” Before the blinking guests had quite recovered from the explosion, real enough, out stepped “Miss 1941” to make her debut, or should it be “debomb”?”
Coming soon! Week 74, 27th January - 2nd February 1941, will be published on Monday 27th January 2014. To view previous issues please use the menus on the right hand side of the page.
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Comments
It was difficult to walk by road to school as they were closed by deep drifts, The best way was to go through the fields.
There was a great shortage of bread ( even though rationed) as this had to come by road to the local shop in Gillock. We had ofcourse no electricity then just oil lamps and peat fires supplemented by coal. Then there were no powerful snow ploughs and the main roads were kept open by gangs of men with shovels digging through the drifts.
We did not complain as we had flour, eggs and potatoes and my mother made butter and crudie. We kids loved the snow as we were off school and although we were roped in to do tasks like feeding the cattle etc we had a great time sledging and sliding on ice covered ponds.
Nearly all the woman folk were engaged in knitting and WRIs were heavily involved in kniting comforts for the POWs and Troops. We kids all had knitted balaclavas, which you never see now, and they were great in the cold winds. Wellington boots were making an appearance but they were poor quality and prone to leaking. Patches were available but they were not effective, Each locality had a shoemaker who was employed making tacketty boots which every shoolboy in the country wore.
We were keeping up with the war through the radio and everyone listened to the nine o clock news and the news of the "Jervis Bay" was in all conversations . We , living on a farm,had visits from many officers from the local barracks in Watten - they were on the scrounge for eggs which they bought and sent to their folks in the cities in the South.
Rabbits and hares were being caught by the dozens and shipped South. In the country districts many youths had ferrets and rabbiting was very popular and lucarative pastime. I remember going to Watten Station with my father and seeing many crates of rabits for shipment south. Mixamatosis was not known about and we all had delicious rabit stew for dinner quite often to supplement the meagre meat ration.
Ferrets, snares and dogs were used but shot guns were not not employed due to ammunition shortage.
The idea of people sending rabbits south for their families is not something I had heard of before, but a very sensible option for a lot of people struggling on rations (assuming the meat got delivered quickly!)