The inspiration behind Bond
Q
The lethal origins of
a lovable eccentricA fact well-known to Bondologists (less so to everyone
else) is that the lovably eccentric quartermaster Q –
responsible for everything from exploding tubes of
toothpaste to a machine gun disguised as a set of
bagpipes – never actually appeared in any of Fleming’s
books. However, the novels did feature a ‘Q Branch’,
and this, we know, was copied directly from real life.
During the Second World War, undercover British
agents bound for occupied Europe – including some
of those in Fleming’s 30 Assault Unit – would pay a visit
to Q (short for Quartermaster) Branch, where they were
often kitted out with devices known as ‘Q gadgets’.
Usually these were everyday objects adapted to contain
some kind of tool or weapon, such as golf balls
containing compasses; pencils hollowed out to hide silk
maps; hairbrushes with saws inside; garlic-flavoured
chocolate for British agents heading to France (in the
hope that the smell on their breath would allow them to
blend in more easily with the local population); and a
shoelace that doubled up as a garotte.
The enterprising figure behind the real Q Branch
was Charles Fraser-Smith. Before the war, Fraser-Smith
had been a missionary in Morocco, where he and his
wife ran a farm and an orphanage in the foothills of
the Atlas mountains. Soon after the outbreak of war,
Fraser-Smith took a job at the Ministry of Supply,
where his main task was to source clothes for under-
cover agents travelling to Europe. But he also devised
his ingenious ‘Q gadgets’, and soon had several
hundred specialist companies across London. It was
at this point that he met a fellow civil servant called
Ian Fleming.Miss Moneypenny
From unrequited crush to longest
flirtation in historyShe may have had no more than a minor role in Fleming’s
books, but after Bond himself, Miss Moneypenny is probably
the most recognisable character in Fleming’s world. Appearing
in every film bar two certainly helps, as does having an
unforgettable name – not to mention being one half of the
longest-running flirtation in film history.
The most likely model for Miss Moneypenny was Kathleen
Pettigrew, secretary to C, the head of MI6, when Fleming
worked in Naval Intelligence. Another possible source was
Victoire ‘Paddy’ Ridsdale, who worked in the same office as
Fleming. While Fleming might have wanted to have the same
teasing relationship with both women as Bond did with Money-
penny, there is no evidence that he achieved it. Instead, it seems
Moneypenny was a (hugely successful) example of the author
projecting a real-life fantasy into fiction.Henry Hemming will be
discussing James Bond’s
real-life inspirations
on our podcast.
historyextra.com/podcastMORE FROM US
Put that in
your pipe
A dagger concealed in a
pipe, issued by the Special
Operations Executive during
the Second World WarJust my type
Secretaries at work in
Admiralty House in- Bond’s office
crush may have been
based on women
Fleming knew
BNPJ/GETTY IMAGES
The inspiration behind Bond
Q
The lethal origins of
a lovable eccentric
A fact well-known to Bondologists (less so to everyon
else) is that the lovably eccentric quartermaster Q –
responsibleforeverythingfromexplodingtubesof
toothpasteto a machinegundisguisedasa setof
bagpipes– neveractuallyappearedin anyof Fleming’s
books.However,thenovelsdidfeaturea ‘QBranch’,
andthis,weknow,wascopieddirectlyfromreallife.
DuringtheSecondWorldWar,undercoverBritish
agentsboundforoccupiedEurope– includingsome
of thosein Fleming’s30 AssaultUnit – wouldpay a visit
to Q (shortforQuartermaster)Branch,wheretheywere
oftenkittedoutwithdevicesknownas‘Qgadgets’.
Usuallythesewereeverydayobjectsadaptedto contain
somekindof toolor weapon,suchasgolfballs
containingcompasses;pencilshollowedoutto hidesilk
maps;hairbrusheswith sawsinside;garlic-flavoured
chocolateforBritishagentsheadingto France(inthe
hopethat the smellon their breathwouldallowthemto
blendin moreeasilywiththelocalpopulation);anda
shoelacethatdoubledupasa garotte.
The enterprisingfigurebehindthe real Q Branch
wasCharlesFraser-Smith.Beforethewar,Fraser-Smith
had beena missionaryin Morocco,wherehe and his
wife ran a farm and an orphanagein the foothillsof
theAtlasmountains.Soonaftertheoutbreakof war,
Fraser-Smithtook a job at the Ministryof Supply,
wherehis maintask was to sourceclothesfor under-
coveragentstravellingto Europe.Buthealsodevised
his ingenious‘Q gadgets’,and soonhad several
hundredspecialistcompaniesacrossLondon.It was
at thispointthathemeta fellowcivilservantcalled
IanFleming.
Miss Moneypenny
Fromunrequitedcrushto longest
flirtationinhistoryShemayhavehadnomorethana minorrolein Fleming’s
books,but after Bondhimself,Miss Moneypennyis probably
the mostrecognisablecharacterin Fleming’sworld.Appearing
in everyfilm bar two certainlyhelps,as does havingan
unforgettablename– notto mentionbeingonehalfof the
longest-runningflirtationin film history.
The mostlikelymodelfor Miss Moneypennywas Kathleen
Pettigrew,secretaryto C, the headof MI6, whenFleming
workedin NavalIntelligence.Anotherpossiblesourcewas
Victoire‘Paddy’Ridsdale,who workedin the sameofficeas
Fleming.WhileFlemingmighthavewantedto havethesame
teasingrelationshipwith both womenas Bonddid with Money-
penny,thereis noevidencethatheachievedit. Instead,it seems
Moneypennywas a (hugelysuccessful)exampleof the author
projectinga real-lifefantasyinto fiction.HenryHemmingwill be
discussing James Bond’s
real-life inspirations
on our podcast.
historyextra.com/podcastMORE FROM US
Putthatin
yourpipe
A daggerconcealedin a
pipe, issuedby the Special
OperationsExecutiveduring
the SecondWorldWar
Just my type
Secretaries at work in
Admiralty House in- Bond’s office
crush may have been
based on women
Fleming knew
BNPJ/GETTY IMAGES