The German campaign against Moscow made rapid progress, with German armies capturing another 500,000 Soviet troops at Vyazma. Some now predicted that the war would be won within weeks, but rain was turning the roads to mud and slowing the Germans down; also, the Soviets were deploying the new T-34 tank, which had better armour than their own tanks, and the fierce Soviet resistance had bought time to strengthen Moscow’s defences. Also this week, on the night of 12-13 October the RAF launched a heavy bombing raid on Nuremburg.

In Caithness, the John O’Groat Journal reported that Sinclair Manson, manager of the Wick Gasworks Company, faced with a choice last July between cutting off the town’s gas supply or breaking the black-out regulations, had chosen the latter; and now appeared in the Sheriff Court to answer for it. As his solicitor, Harold Georgeson, explained, “during a temporary breakdown of the plant at the works an emergency plant was being used. Coal became jammed in a retort, and rather than cut off the community’s gas supply and endanger the town, the manager decided to blast out the coal” in a burst of flame. Sheriff Trotter agreed there had been exceptional circumstances, but still fined him £2 for breach of black-out regulations.

Lieutenant Colonel Ian McHardy of the Home Guard received a letter this week regarding a recent inspection, which contained the back-handed compliment that “I could not get any grouses out of your company commanders”. The letter continued, “Mackenzie had a slight grouse that you hadn’t put forward some name for a commission. You have probably some good reason, but your companies are big and you have fewer Officers than any other Battalion… Your Battalion Store looks good but is undoubtedly damp... There is much more stuff in the store than there should be, but your new Q.M.S. [Quartermaster Sergeant] assured me he was getting things out as quickly as possible.”

The John O’Groat Journal noted an unexpected consequence of the war: “The domestic servant problem is getting rather acute these days, and it looks as though it might get worse before it gets better if the Ministry of Labour keeps on calling up domestics. In Caithness the scarcity seems to be irreparable, and however efficient a housemaid or tablemaid, etc., may be, “Madam” will think twice nowadays before the aforesaid  girls get the sack, and well they know it.”

Police Inspector Cormack of Thurso reported that a Norwegian national, Laurite Johansen, had landed at Scrabster on 8 October. He was a survivor of the Norwegian vessel “Dagney I” which had been bombed and sunk by enemy action in August. “At the time of the attack the “Dagney I” was carrying a party of refugees from Bergen, Norway, to Britain, but this man who was wounded had been landed at Faroes where he was detained in hospital.” 61 other survivors had already been landed.

Finally this week, the John O’Groat Journal recorded the unearthing of a “Victory” potato: “A perfect V-shaped potato was found in her garden by Mrs Wm. Morrison, Kirkstyle Lane” – though sadly no picture was included.

Coming soon! Week 111, 13th - 19th October 1941, will be published on Monday 13th October 2014. To view previous issues please use the menus on the right hand side of the page.

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