The Survival Factor was published about a year before Colonel Anderson’s death. Almost twenty years later, Doctor Rowley Richards published a second book based on his experiences during World War II, A Doctor’s War. This is a more personal account. The book is no case-study. It is a memoir and, perhaps, represents the last chance to put the record straight.
I suppose that this is why I was so shocked to read Dr Richards’ surmise as to why Colonel Anderson acted ‘strangely’ at times. Ostensibly, instead of well considering the strain that each of them were under in a balanced appraisal, Dr Richards abruptly concluded that his commanding officer was ‘mentally ill’. You cannot libel or slander the dead. But, you can give your reader serious pause.
What am I to make of this? It would seem that Captain Richards had not gotten over the Colonel’s comments about his bedside manner. Given the fact that the Colonel had not retaliated when the Captain accused him of potentially committing murder, it seems somewhat odd to make this sort of assessment. I have often puzzled over this.
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