By James Macdonald,theorkneynews
Copyright theorkneynews
During World War 2 Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the building of barriers to prevent a further incursion of German U boats after the sinking of HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow.
The sheltered, deep water of Scapa Flow was a vital Royal Navy base in both World Wars and the vessels had been protected by anti U boat nets and other defences.
The work on building the barriers was undertaken by the construction firm Balfour Beatty & Co Ltd but as the war progressed and manpower was needed Italian prisoners were shipped to Orkney to be used.
The prisoners were put to work from two camps at different ends of the project: Camp 34, Burray, and Camp 60, Lambs Holm.
Not long after the work started with the Italian prisoners there was trouble when they went on strike claiming this was war work and was against the Geneva Convention.
The men were put on bread and water rations and the leaders of the strike transported to POW camps south. The remainder were persuaded that the barriers were being built to take roadways to connect up the smaller islands to Mainland – which today they do.
Their story is covered in ‘Churchill’s Prisoners’ by James MacDonald.
There were tragedies too as some men lost their lives during the construction.
The book has many images and stories of the skilled craftsmanship of the Italians and their ability to make beautiful objects out of the most mundane of materials.
The Italian chapel, was built by the men of Camp 60. Camp 34 also had a chapel at Warebanks, Burray, but it was demolished by salvage contractors Halcro & Norquoy. The same fate would have befallen the Italian chapel at Lamb Holm except that it was saved by P N Sutherland Graeme of Graemeshall who owned the land it was on.
The chapel is a beautiful place, lovingly painted by Domenico Chiocchetti who continued to complete his work on the font after the other POWs had been sent away in September 1944.
“We had nothing but praise for the work of Domenico Chiocchetti the artist, Palumbo the blacksmith, who made the rood screen from suitable iron provided by Balfour Beatty, and Primevera who made the brass candlesticks by the altar. ” Major James Booth
Today the Italian Chapel is in the care of The Italian Chapel Preservation Committee.
Opening hours:
November – March open 10.00 – 13.00 everyday except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
April and October open 10.00 – 16.00 everyday
May and September open 09.00 – 17.00 everyday
June, July and August open 09.00 – 17:30 everyday
Admission is £4.00per person, with free entry to those 12 and under, Tour Guides & Drivers. Advanced booking essential for larger groups.
“One evening we were summoned to Rockworks to pick up three Italian prisoners who had just struggled across from Lamb Holm. It was the first time I had seen the causeways and I was amazed at the enormity of the works and that anyone could actually cross there.” Ron Cowsell, from Churchill’s Prisoners, The Italians in Orkney 1941 – 1944 by James MacDonald
