Week 134 – 23-29 March 1942
On 28 March British commandos launched the raid on Saint-Nazaire in Brittany. An obsolete destroyer, HMS Campeltown, packed with explosives, rammed the dock gates and when the explosives later detonated they did so much damage that the dock was out of service for the rest of the war. 622 commandos accompanied the Campbeltown but after their transports were sunk by German gunfire only 228 returned to Britain. Also this week, on 28 March the RAF raided Lübeck in Germany, destroying 30% of the city; and the first of 6,000 Jews from Paris were sent to Auschwitz concentration camp.
All over Caithness the sowing of oats was underway, as the John O’Groat Journal reported, with the ground being in a fairly good condition: In Dunbeath, “Mr Mackay, the energetic farmer of Dunbeath Mains, sowed his lea park on Tuesday. Several crofters have also sowed their lea fields. Even old men nearing 80 years of age can be seen at the plough, so great is their desire to win the war.”
On 27 March the Greenland School log book contains the following note: “Mrs Bews was absent for two days this week owing to her husband being on embarkation leave the work was kindly carried on by Miss Cuthbertson and Mrs Taylor.”
The pupils of Pulteneytown Academy School had received a new headmaster the previous week, John Scollay, and he was gradually working his way round the school, examining each class, and was clearly not an easy man to please. On 24 March he examined two classes in reading and general intelligence: “The former class was found to be stiff and unresponsive, while the latter class was very responsive, and although the general intelligence of the class is low, yet the training appears to be good.”
On 24 March Mr Pate, coal merchant of Wick, notified the police: “We have just returned from Lybster with our lorry and while passing Clyth we were asked by Sutherland, farmer, Mid-Clyth to report to the Police that late this afternoon he observed a submarine on the surface about 2½ to 3 miles off the cemetery at Clyth. The submarine remained on the surface for a few minutes and then submerged.” A postscript adds: “Also seen by Mr Elliot off Waligoe [sic] at 5pm.”
Finally this week, the John O’Groat Journal reported that a man from Leeds had been sentenced to prison in Wick Sheriff Court for stealing an Air Minsitry handbook and ten rounds of rifle ammunition from the Caithness Coastguard. His justification was unusual. “On being asked by his lordship if he had any explanation to make, Duke said: “This country is run for capitalism. There are too many bosses in this country, and they don’t just agree with me.” When the Sheriff asked if he couldn’t just go to Germany he replied, “Why should I go to Germany?”
Coming soon! Week 135, 30th March - 5th April 1942, will be published on Monday 30th March 2015. To view previous issues please use the menus on the right hand side of the page.
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