Special Delivery is a biography and wartime memoir of Warrant Officer John Morrison, a Scottish Air Force officer during World War II.
The above quote from one of my favorite authors, Terry Pratchett, serves as an appropriate and poignant starting point for this review. It captures the indomitable spirit of an individual like John Morrison that is not forgotten even with the passage of time. Through ‘Special Delivery,’ readers became immersed in his extraordinary journey, and indeed, Morrison’s name survived.
Written by Alan James Barker (Ghosts of the Dardanelles: A Novel of the Great War) and John's daughter Lynn Defty, the book is based on letters written by John to his wife Margery. What sets this book apart from similar books is the unique approach and careful attention to detail in telling John's story.
John Morrison was born in Aberdeen and worked as a telegram boy at the age of 14, later being promoted to postman in 1940. Despite this being an 'exempt job', John decided to volunteer as a flight attendant for the RAF.
John's story, meticulously researched by Alan James Barker, begins from the beginning, describing John's early days and training in the RAF. Barker skillfully weaves together RAF archives and BBC interviews. John's story continues all the way to 35 Squadron, where he became a radio operator/air gunner flying Whitley and Halifax bombers. Letters to his new wife – his love for Margery in his life begins to shine through. Barker continues Morrison's story, providing a vivid account of his mission and flight.
John's letters and memoirs form the central content of the book. We get an intimate view of the war that goes beyond typical historical accounts. Written in a pre-social media era and under the most hostile of circumstances, each letter acts as a time capsule, transporting us to the moment it was written and giving the reader a glimpse into the emotions, thoughts and fears John felt. Morrison was experiencing it.
We learn about John's optimism about his ability to fly and the frustrations of life in the RAF. Morrison's letters immerse readers in the brutality of war, the camaraderie between soldiers, and the yearning for home that burns with each letter.
Supporting the letters and memoirs is a beautifully composed historical account of life as an Air Force officer in World War II.
on his 24thDay At Mission, Morrison's bomber was shot down while attacking the German naval ship Tirpitz.
After surviving the crash, Morrison and his navigator eluded the Germans for several days until they were taken prisoner just two miles from Sweden (a neutral country). This is where ‘express delivery’ shines. Captured and sent to Stalug Luft 3 (the POW camp made famous by The Great Escape), Morrison somehow manages to write a letter to his wife. The letters are sometimes short and attempt to convey positivity and optimism, but when you read between the lines of John's messages, the fear is very clear. Using the letters and his research, Barker is able to show Morrison's life as a POW. The vivid descriptions of the daily struggles faced by John, as well as other soldiers, create a visceral reading experience.
Morrison's story continues through several camps as the Germans try to capture prisoners despite the advancing Russian army. Three years after his arrest, John was repatriated to his beloved wife.
Morrison's story does not end with repatriation, and the book continues the story of his extraordinary life as a family member and veteran after the war. John never lost sight of the camaraderie formed by his captivity, and later made emotional visits to former POW camps until his death at the age of 90.