Week 155: 17-23 Aug 1942
With American forces now occupying part of Guadalcanal Island in the Pacific, the first US fighter planes could land on 20 August. The next day the Japanese launched a suicidal attack on the airfield; nearly 800 Japanese soldiers were killed. On 19 August some 6,086 Allied soldiers, mostly Canadian, attacked Dieppe in northern France; the raid was a disaster, and over 60% of those involved were killed, wounded or captured. The failure of the raid showed that the Allies would not be ready to invade France in the near future. Also this week, the Battle of Stalingrad in Eastern Russia began on 23 August with a massive German air bombardment.
Lord William Urquhart [Lord was his Christian name], a haulage contractor from Tain, pleaded guilty to an unusual charge this week, reported in the John O’Groat Journal, which shows the seriousness of the wartime food restrictions. He’d been driving 100 sacks of potatoes to Caithness from Tain, and had got as far as Latheronwheel when his lorry broke down. He left the load at the Latheronwheel Hotel, thinking that the rest would be delivered by another contractor. In the end, all but eight bags were disposed of, but the rest were left to rot: and so, for allowing the waste of eight bags of potatoes, Urquhart was fined £12 10s.
On 18 August the Caithness Police received the tragic news that a plane from Lossiemouth had crashed on East Scaraben Hill at Braemore, near Dunbeath. Three of the crew were killed, while two were injured and had to be taken to Braemore by stretcher, and then on to Bignold Hospital at Lybster. “Hugh Morrison, aged 86 years, crofter, Achinellet, Braemore, a [Lance Corporal] in the Home Guard, heard two planes flying low over the Scarabens between 12 & 1 am on Tuesday the 18th instant, & about 12.30 am he heard a crash as if one of the planes had been forced down; but as the weather at the time was very misty, & visibility reduced to nil, he did not raise the alarm. At 6am the weather cleared & he went to the place and found the plane & the crew in the position stated.”
The John O’Groat Journal reported that a debate in Caithness County Council over the allowances given to the “destitute poor” in the 
county and whether there should be a minimum rate. In a heated discussion it was alleged that one man was receiving £1 a week, whereas a woman with a child in Wick was only receiving 15 shillings, which the chief public assistance officer denied (“That is untrue!”). Mr Mulraine then declared, “You are not looking for the poor. We are representing the rich and the poor. You have your scone, and you must let other people have theirs!” The Council decided to take no action.
Finally this week, the delays arising from having Caithness letters and parcels censored in Inverness were having serious consequences, as raised at a meeting of Wick Burgh Council: “It was also reported that recently a chemist had posted some urgently required medicine to the south of the County, but that the package had not been delivered until after the expiry of three days, by which time the sick person was dead.”
Coming soon! Week 156, 24th - 30th August 1942, will be published on Monday 24th August 2015. To view previous issues please use the menus on the right hand side of the page.
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