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Caithness at War: Week 61

28 October-3 November 1940

On Monday 28 October Italy invaded Greece from Albania, without consulting Germany first and much to Hitler’s annoyance. But faced with stubborn Greek resistance and poor weather the Italian forces failed to achieve a breakthrough. Meanwhile British convoy losses to U-boats continued to be heavy: a total of 63 merchant and other ships were sunk in October 1940. On 31 October all Jews living in Warsaw were moved to ghettos.

Week 61 wick north school log book 26.10.1940In Wick, all attention in the town was on dealing with the aftermath of the air raid of 26 October. The log book of Wick North School recorded on Monday 28th: “Repercussion of a severe air raid on Wick on Saturday 26th Oct at 6.30 p.m. was felt in the attendance today, one third of the pupils being absent. The headmaster was personally involved as the bombs left his house in an uninhabitable condition. Two pupils belonging to the school died from injuries. This brings the total of deaths of pupils of the school in air raids to nine”.

Week 61 28 oct wick burgh meeting re air raid p1In Wick Burgh Council, the main talking point was the lack of warning, and the “apparent Week 61 28 oct wick burgh meeting re air raids otherinactivity of the defence forces”, especially considering that the raiders were seen coming from “as far south as Occumster”. The lack of warning was tragically highlighted by the fact that “Mr Cameron, who has lost two of his children, and a lady lodger, had, in fact, provided himself with a good air raid shelter, which had remained intact, although his house itself had been demolished.”

Week 61 30 oct police plane crash latheronOn 30 October Latheron police reported that a plane had crashed in the parish. “An airman arrived at Boulester, Latheron, at 09.30 hours this morning and reported that his plane was down 5 miles due West of Boulester, in hill ground. The airman said he thought the other four occupants of the plane were dead. He himself was suffering from a broken shoulder… The plane struck a hill.”

Finally this week, some positive news: the Caithness County Fighter Fund, which had been set up some weeks Week 61 caithness fighting fund (j.o.g. journal 01.11.1940)before to raise enough money to pay for a Spitfire fighter, had reached and exceeded its target. The fund, which had set a target of £5,000, enough to pay for a fighter plane, had in fact reached £5,296 7s. 1d. The whole amount was to be remitted to the Minister for Aircraft Production.