After defeating the Italians in North Africa, the British had reached as far as El Agheila in Libya and had established defensive positions there; four of their divisions had since been transferred to Greece. Now Rommel, with a mixed German and Italian army, attacked the British defences and occupied El Agheila, forcing the British to retreat. On 27 March a coup in Yugoslavia overthrew the pro-German government, leading Hitler to delay his invasion of Russia so that an invasion of Yugoslavia could be planned. Also this week, British forces defeated an Italian army at Keren in Eritrea on 27 March, and the British navy defeated an Italian fleet in the Battle of Cape Matapan, 27-29 March.
Far from the African desert, Caithness was suffering from heavy snow storms this week. The Head Teacher of Greenland School in Dunnet recorded in the log book: “Wednesday 26th inst. was very stormy – high winds with drift. On following morning roads were again badly blocked. No attendances on Thursday & Friday. School then closed for Easter vacation.”
The John O’Groat Journal reported the dramatic escape and return home of a Wick man who
had been captured in the fall of France in the summer of 1940. Private Alexander Crowe had been a baker in civilian life, and when he was placed in a prison camp he was put to work there as a baker, working nights with three Englishmen from his own unit. “One night in September the four of them made a daring break, evaded the guards and got away. Before they got clear of the danger zone they ran into several parties of Germans, but their luck held and they passed in safety each time, thanks to their boldness.”
Another mine was washed ashore on the Caithness coast on 29 March, two miles south of Duncansby Head: “a cylinder 2 feet long, 9 inches in diameter, closed at one end and open at the other end. At the open end there is a bar screwed down by two screws.”
Finally this week, it appears that vandalism is not an altogether modern problem. The John
O’Groat Journal reported that “the local authority in Caithness is perturbed about the damage being done to property in air raid shelters provided for the public.” It itemised the damage: “Forms for seating have been destroyed, electric lighting bulbs have been removed, and in some instances nuisances have been committed. The public will have to help in protecting the shelters specially provided for their use in the event of an emergency.”
