On Wednesday 28 February the Soviets launched another major offensive, attacking the Finns along the Mannerheim line. Viipuri, Finland’s second largest city, also came under attack, and the Finns prepared to come to terms. Meanwhile, Hitler directed his generals to start planning a German invasion of Denmark and Norway.
Britain had now been at war for six months. Conscription, rationing and the Blackout had all transformed the way the people of Britain lived their lives; and although British soldiers had not yet been involved in fighting on land, for those serving in the air force and especially the Royal Navy and merchant navy – and their families and friends back home – the war was already being fought in earnest.
As a mournful reminder of this Wick Burgh Council received a letter this week from the Vice-Admiral Commanding Orkneys and Shetlands, “conveying thanks for the arrangements made in connection of the burial of victims of H.M.S. Exmouth” (see Week 22 for details).
Meanwhile the John O’Groat Journal reported the arrival of Newfoundland lumberjacks in the Highlands, “felling trees and astounding the local people by their extraordinary skill in handling the axe”. (Though, as the journalist noted, “Unfortunately, we in Caithness have every need to preserve all the trees we can without reducing their number with the aid of imported experts.”)
The Air Raid Precautions services of Wick and Thurso combined in a series of training exercises this week, intended to be as realistic as possible by simulating the effects of high explosive, incendiary and persistent gas bombs, as well as wounds caused by machine gun bullets. The only problem was, that not enough people were able to attend to make the exercises worthwhile. The only time when enough people would be available to take part was Sunday afternoon, and “The organising committee realised that while this could be justified on the basis of the whole work being work of necessity and mercy … every effort should be made to avoid the wholesome tradition of Sabbath observance which is characteristic of the county”.
Finally, notice was given this week that the entire north of Scotland was to be made a “Protected Area” as of 11 March 1940. The area affected was to consist of the counties of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, parts of Inverness and Argyll, and all the islands of the Hebrides. In future, no one would be allowed to remain in or enter there without a permit. (“Only in this way can the area be adequately protected or safeguarded from enemy opportunities of espionage or other subversive activities”.)
