On 12 October the American Fifth Army crossed to the north bank of the Volturno River in Italy; the German army retreated to the Barbara Line a few miles further back. On 13 October the Italian government declared war on Germany. On 14 October inmates at the Sobibór extermination camp in Poland staged an uprising, killing eleven SS officers and guards before they were discovered: over 100 inmates managed to escape.
‘Norseman’ in the John O’Groat Journal looked back on the summer harvest, a productive one despite the difficulties farmers had faced: “In spite of shortage of labour and sodden fields the stackyards are now filling up rapidly and there is no sign of damage or loss. Indeed when the season is over it may be counted as the most successful for many years. An immense quantity of grain has been grown and garnered.”
The pupils of several Wick schools got an afternoon off on 11 October when Lady Baden-
Powell, widow of the founder of the Scouting and Girl Guide movements and World Chief Guide, visited the town. The log book of Pulteneytown Academy records: “School dismissed in the early afternoon and double attendance marked as Lady Baden-Powell was visiting the High School where she inspected and addressed the Girl Guides.”
The pupils of Wick North School were also given leave to attend: “School closed today at 1.30pm to permit of Girl Guides and Brownies taking part in Rally on occasion of the visit of Lady Baden-Powell the Chief Guide.” A couple of days later the head teacher noted, “Attendance for the week 88.4%. The drop in attendance mainly accounted for by further spread of whooping cough, especially in the Infant Section.”
Finally this week, also on Monday 11 October, Dunbeath Police made the following report: “A 
Tiger Moth aeroplane, No. D.H. 379, made a forced landing in a cornfield at Newport, Berriedale, at about 3 p.m. on Sunday 10th instant. The pilot was uninjured and was proceeding from Aberdeen to Castletown. The plane is at present being guarded by Black Watch personnel. The field is on the croft occupied by Jeannie Mackay, Newport, Berriedale.”
