German forces were now within 90 miles of Moscow, but constant rain and mud and falling temperatures slowed the advance to less than two miles a day while the Germans struggled to keep their army supplied. In the Ukraine, however, conditions were better and on 24 October German forces captured the important mining town of Kharkov. Over two days, 22-24 October, over 20,000 Jews were massacred in Odessa by Romanian and German soldiers in reprisal for a bomb attack on Romanian army headquarters.
In many parts of Caithness the harvest had now been gathered in. The John O’Groat Journal reported that for John O’Groats itself, “Harvest work is now practically finished in the district, all the corn crops being now secured in the stackyard, and most of the potatoes lifted. All crops are exceptionally good this season, potatoes especially being a bumper crop.”
The corn crop was not so far advanced everywhere in the county, however. The Brabster School log book records briefly on 23 October: “George Farquhar absent to work on corn”.
In Halladale, just over the border into Sutherland, the Journal reported that, “The salmon spawning season has opened with favourable spates up to the highest reaches of the Halladale river. Burns and streamlets from the moorland lochs all have a good flow of water.” And unlike their Caithness counterparts, in Sutherland “the school children have got what is known as the “tattie week” holidays.”
There had been reports that Caithness milk was of poor quality, and was not being procuced in clean conditions 
(allegedly a problem across the Highlands at this time). The Director of Education wrote to the Divisional Food Office this week to say that the question of the milk supply in Caithness was becoming difficult, and quoting the Chief Milk Inspector: “Cocoa is more popular in the schools at the moment, and considering the source of the milk supply this may be a desirable feature”. He went on, “Under the circumstances it would be a little awkward for Miss Ritchie to come north to preach the gospel, ‘Drink More Milk’.”
Thurso Burgh Salvage Committee had an unsavoury complaint to deal with at their meeting of 22 October: “There was submitted [a] letter received from the Ness Waste Paper Company complaining about the last consignment of waste paper sent to the mills, which contained bones and broken bottles. Mr Manson pointed out that some of the salvage came direct from the military… It was accordingly arranged to intimate to the military units that in future only clean waste must be sent to the store.”
Finally this week, the John O’Groat Journal reported a singular honour: “Petty Officer Angus MacIntosh, R.N.R., 
whose home is in Wilson Street, Thurso, has been officially notified that he has been awarded the Free French Croix de Guerre for gallantry and devotion to duty in the evacuation of Free French from Narvik. It may be recalled that P.O. MacIntosh was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for bravery at Narvik. In civil life P.O. MacIntosh, whom we heartily congratulate upon the further honour conferred upon him, is coxswain of Thurso lifeboat.”
