In southern Russia, the Soviet offensive to recapture Kharkov broke down, and a German counter-attack left the Soviet armies encircled and destroyed. Germany finally called off the planned invasion of Malta: the island still offered fierce resistance, and Hitler now wanted to focus on the Western Desert. Also this week, the Japanese completed their invasion of Burma, and Mexico declared war on the Axis.
Caithness was in the middle of fundraising for Warship Week. As the John O’Groat Journal reported on Friday 22 May, “During the first three days of its Warship Week Caithness has raised £106,000, and including yesterday (Thursday) the total will be well over the half-way mark to the target of £210,000. H.M.S. Campbell [named in honour of Major Jock Campbell of Thurso] is clearly in sight. To reach her we must now row hard and fast. Every man to his oar!”
The main fundraising events across the county were military processions, pipe band and variety concerts, as well as dancing and gymnastic displays. In Thurso, however, the John O’Groat Journal noted that “A most interesting event, and one which had a wide appeal, even beyond the regular football fan, was an “international” football match on Monday evening between teams composed of Scottish and English players. The spectators numbered 2,000.” Alas for the home side, “While Scotland put up a fine show in the first half and led by two goals to one, England were on top in the second period and scored five times to win 6-3.”
Thrumster School near Wick received the H.M. Inspector’s report into the standard of the school, and it was grudgingly complimentary: “The work of the groups in the senior room shows improvement over last session’s attainment; while the reading, recitation and oral answering are marred by faulty and monotonous speech, the written results … are of fairly good quality.” One benefit of the Dig for Victory campaign emerged, however, as “The senior boys have had a useful course in school gardening”.
Constable Gunn of Dunnet reported that, after a long delay, the Navy were finally tidying up after themselves: “I beg to report that on Tuesday 19th instant a party of Royal Engineers from Inverness visited Rattar Mains farm, Dunnet. They dug up the naval practice shells previously reported as having landed in the fields about a month ago … Both were found at a depth of about 4 feet 6 inches and no damage had been done by them.”
Finally, we return to Caithness Warship Week. Cameron and Shearer placed this rousing poem in their advert in the John O’Groat Journal:
“O give us a ship, calls Thurso Town,
And Wick makes swift reply;
We’ll have a ship on the builders’ slip
Ere another month goes by.
Old Dunnet Head speaks loud and strong,
Stand fast, stand fast, says he,
We are the North and our word goes forth
For another victory.
We stand at the “Gate o’ Sons of Thor,”
The Crown of the Mainland we,
And some of our lads fight every hour,
And some sleep in the sea.
Then give us a ship with raking guns,
A ship of steel and fire;
For the land we love and the lads we’ve lost,
And honour of Caithness-shire.”
