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Ian Fleming and SOE's Operation Postmaster: The Top Secret Story Behind 007
This is a true story of a force of ‘licensed to kill’ secret agents, commanded by a real war time secret service chief code names M, with whom Ian Fleming worked, and upon whom his James Bond stories were based.
Brigadier Colin Gubbins was M, the Special Operations Executive was his Secret Service, Professor Dudley Newitt was Q and Captain Gus March-Phillips commanded ‘Maid of Honor Force’, the team of ‘James Bonds’ who, in a daring operation, sailed a Q ship to West Africa and stole three enemy ships from a neutral Spanish port on the volcanic island of Fernando Po. Ian Fleming worked closely with M to oil the wheels that made the operation possible, and prepared the cover story, in which the British Government lied in order to conceal British responsibility for the raid. M’s agents prepared the ground on Fernando Po, even enmeshing the Governor in a honey trap. March-Phillips and his team carried out the raid successfully in January 1942, despite much opposition from the local regular Army and Navy commanders, and in the face of overwhelming odds. Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden told Fleming’s lies on the international stage, denying any British complicity in the operation. As a result, a secrecy embargo enveloped Operation POSTMASTER until recently.
The author, an experienced criminal QC, proves beyond doubt that this thrilling operation, and the men who carried it out, were the inspiration for Fleming’s James Bond.
423 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 21, 2022
Rather than going through the lengthy and tiresome process of obtaining permission to requisition such a craft, March-Phillipps simply went out and bought one a few days before Christmas of 1940. (Bond would no doubt have done exactly the same.)
Excellent history of a daring and successful British special operation in western Africa. Two problems: it was an unnecessary and potentially ruinous mission, and for the purposes of titling this history Ian Fleming had little to do with the conception or execution of Postmaster. Fleming’s place in the title and text is presumably a marketing ploy.
Perhaps it would not be out of place to observe that one of the chief reasons for the creation of SOE was the desirability of an organization whose actions could be disowned by His Majesty’s Government.
A sad consequence of Special Operations Executive’s flagrant disregard for international norms and neutrality were the cavalier and even more destruction actions of America’s Central Intelligence Agency, itself something of a SOE spinoff, in the decades after World War Two.
Many commandos were trained to kill in ‘Bond’ fashion, but very few indeed had the ability so expertly to deceive.
Despite constant references to Fleming and his later literary creations, he was more observer than actor. Apparently, Fleming recognized the literary potential of this type of mission, which remained classified until after his death. Lett has it backward. Bond wasn’t the inspiration of Postmaster as he knows better but implies; Postmaster inspired Fleming to create Bond, but that is typical for the convoluted logic. (Needed maps.)
One of March-Phillipps’ pencilled standing orders to his crew reads: ‘Avoid a fight if humanly possible, but resist capture to the last.’
Excellent history of a daring and successful British special operation in western Africa. Two problems: it was an unnecessary and potentially ruinous mission, and for the purposes of titling this history Ian Fleming had little to do with the conception or execution of Postmaster. Fleming’s place in the title and text is presumably a marketing ploy.
Perhaps it would not be out of place to observe that one of the chief reasons for the creation of SOE was the desirability of an organization whose actions could be disowned by His Majesty’s Government.
A sad consequence of Special Operations Executive’s flagrant disregard for international norms and neutrality were the cavalier and even more destruction actions of America’s Central Intelligence Agency, itself something of a SOE spinoff, in the decades after World War Two.
Many commandos were trained to kill in ‘Bond’ fashion, but very few indeed had the ability so expertly to deceive.
Despite constant references to Fleming and his later literary creations, he was more observer than actor. Apparently, Fleming recognized the literary potential of this type of mission, which remained classified until after his death. Lett has it backward. Bond wasn’t the inspiration of Postmaster as he knows better but implies; Postmaster inspired Fleming to create Bond, but that is typical for the convoluted logic. (Needed maps.)
One of March-Phillipps’ pencilled standing orders to his crew reads: ‘Avoid a fight if humanly possible, but resist capture to the last.’
November 11, 2019
I do not know a lot about Bond, James Bond.
But I do know that he is a kind of a cool guy.
And so I would expect that the book would be at least written in a cooler way (and I definitely doesn't mean funny!)
For me, personally a disappointment.
Or, in words of Bond -not shaken, but stirred ... :O
But I do know that he is a kind of a cool guy.
And so I would expect that the book would be at least written in a cooler way (and I definitely doesn't mean funny!)
For me, personally a disappointment.
Or, in words of Bond -not shaken, but stirred ... :O
September 10, 2021
This book is a pretty good yarn and telling of the WWII story of Operation Postmaster, a 1941 commando mission of the British Special Operations Executive (or SOE, the British counterpart to the US Office of Strategic Services(OSS)).
The author, Brian Lett, has two motives in telling this story.
The first is to establish his thesis that the Operation Postmaster-era SOE served as the basis for the James Bond stories created by Ian Fleming. In almost every way, there are distinct parallels between James Bond's Cold War MI6 and SOE in 1941 (including among other things the double [W] O system, the persons of "M" and "Q," the training of agents in primarily naval commando tactics, and the entire secret agent construct that made Operation Postmaster a success). Ian Fleming was the Naval Intelligence Service's liaison officer between the Admiralty and SOE. He was intimately involved in the planning and coordination required for Postmaster. In later years, Ian Fleming would declare that he got all of his inspiration for his Bond stories from his real-life WWII intelligence experiences. The critical difference is that Fleming was a mere staff officer and observer. But he was well-read into all of the personalities and planning with the SOE. And in follow-on projects, Fleming would unabashedly copy SOE's Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF) concept to create the Admiralty's own 30 Assault Boat Force, one of Fleming's greatest WWII achievements. At the end of the war, Fleming tried convincing "M" -- real name, Major-General Gubbins, to write a history of SOE in WWII. But the British Secrets Act would prevent almost any publications of SOE secrets for another 40 years. Fleming's alternative was to honor SOE in fiction, in the person and adventures of James Bond. He succeeded far beyond his expectations. and today, 007 and the terms created for SOE in WWII are well known to the millions of James Bond fans who have seen the films or read the stories since the mid-50s. Brian Lett succeeds admirably in making this case and it is the best historical explanation I have read for the real-life inspiration behind Bond.
The author's second motive is not quite as well accomplished.
The story of Operation Postmaster is fascinating but a bit thin for a full length book. It makes for sometimes trite story-telling... even though the risks and the daring involved were truly impressive for that point in the war. But it was, after all, a commando raid to steal a passenger liner and a tugboat from a Spanish island harbor off the coast of West Africa.
Truth is, for all its modest success both tactically and as a proof of concept mission for SOE, Operation Postmaster was a minor and mostly unnecessary operation in the grand scheme of WWII. The British were desperate for any success in those gloomy days of early 1941, before the US entered the war. But Operation Postmaster was a fringe operation, the kind the British were overly enamored with and for which the US was challenged to change British thinking to focus on the main strategic goal -- taking the battle to NAZI Germany itself. Missions like Operation Postmaster were usually perceived as frivolous by the Americans, because they did not contribute to the main effort. While the British certainly had a right to think otherwise, it still means this is an unambitious project for a book length read. I enjoyed it, but felt left with a kind of a "so what" feeling at the end. I would have preferred a lengthier book highlighting two or three comparable operations and an epilogue telling the rest of the story as to what happened to the SOE key personalities by war's end. All we are told is that the four main SOE agents for whom Bond is a synthesis did not survive the war. I wanted to know more about these fascinating and heroic men.
Although I only rate this as a three-star book, it's still recommended. For Bond fans, I believe Brian Lett has succeeded admirably in tracing the real world origins of James Bond. This is superior to any other book, article, or film I have seen on this subject. In fact, it puts many of them to shame.
But the thesis is established early on rendering much of the rest of the book unnecessary except to tell a story of a very minor commando raid success during the dark days of 1941 WWII.
Enjoy it for what it is...
The author, Brian Lett, has two motives in telling this story.
The first is to establish his thesis that the Operation Postmaster-era SOE served as the basis for the James Bond stories created by Ian Fleming. In almost every way, there are distinct parallels between James Bond's Cold War MI6 and SOE in 1941 (including among other things the double [W] O system, the persons of "M" and "Q," the training of agents in primarily naval commando tactics, and the entire secret agent construct that made Operation Postmaster a success). Ian Fleming was the Naval Intelligence Service's liaison officer between the Admiralty and SOE. He was intimately involved in the planning and coordination required for Postmaster. In later years, Ian Fleming would declare that he got all of his inspiration for his Bond stories from his real-life WWII intelligence experiences. The critical difference is that Fleming was a mere staff officer and observer. But he was well-read into all of the personalities and planning with the SOE. And in follow-on projects, Fleming would unabashedly copy SOE's Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF) concept to create the Admiralty's own 30 Assault Boat Force, one of Fleming's greatest WWII achievements. At the end of the war, Fleming tried convincing "M" -- real name, Major-General Gubbins, to write a history of SOE in WWII. But the British Secrets Act would prevent almost any publications of SOE secrets for another 40 years. Fleming's alternative was to honor SOE in fiction, in the person and adventures of James Bond. He succeeded far beyond his expectations. and today, 007 and the terms created for SOE in WWII are well known to the millions of James Bond fans who have seen the films or read the stories since the mid-50s. Brian Lett succeeds admirably in making this case and it is the best historical explanation I have read for the real-life inspiration behind Bond.
The author's second motive is not quite as well accomplished.
The story of Operation Postmaster is fascinating but a bit thin for a full length book. It makes for sometimes trite story-telling... even though the risks and the daring involved were truly impressive for that point in the war. But it was, after all, a commando raid to steal a passenger liner and a tugboat from a Spanish island harbor off the coast of West Africa.
Truth is, for all its modest success both tactically and as a proof of concept mission for SOE, Operation Postmaster was a minor and mostly unnecessary operation in the grand scheme of WWII. The British were desperate for any success in those gloomy days of early 1941, before the US entered the war. But Operation Postmaster was a fringe operation, the kind the British were overly enamored with and for which the US was challenged to change British thinking to focus on the main strategic goal -- taking the battle to NAZI Germany itself. Missions like Operation Postmaster were usually perceived as frivolous by the Americans, because they did not contribute to the main effort. While the British certainly had a right to think otherwise, it still means this is an unambitious project for a book length read. I enjoyed it, but felt left with a kind of a "so what" feeling at the end. I would have preferred a lengthier book highlighting two or three comparable operations and an epilogue telling the rest of the story as to what happened to the SOE key personalities by war's end. All we are told is that the four main SOE agents for whom Bond is a synthesis did not survive the war. I wanted to know more about these fascinating and heroic men.
Although I only rate this as a three-star book, it's still recommended. For Bond fans, I believe Brian Lett has succeeded admirably in tracing the real world origins of James Bond. This is superior to any other book, article, or film I have seen on this subject. In fact, it puts many of them to shame.
But the thesis is established early on rendering much of the rest of the book unnecessary except to tell a story of a very minor commando raid success during the dark days of 1941 WWII.
Enjoy it for what it is...
February 24, 2020
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation Postmaster: The Top Secret Story Behind 007 by Brian Lett recaps Operation Postmaster and the men who made it a success. One of them is James Bond’s creator Ian Fleming who got his ideas for his novels while working in British intelligence.
Operation Postmaster was conducted by British Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF) in January 1942, when World War II was starting to ramp up. The objective of Postmaster was to board German and Italian ships which were anchored in Fernando Po (Spanish Guinea), and sail them to Lagos.
The SOE and SSRF were on their own during the operation, as British authorities refused to support them since they were breaching Spanish neutrality, even though it was assumed that the Spanish, if they joined the war, would be on the side of the Axis. Not surprisingly, these same authorities had no problems with taking credit for the operation.
The author did not set out to write a thriller, real people have to deal with real problems which take time to be solved. They can’t be solved in a 20 second conversation with the right people, or with the point of a gun. While the effort to compare the men of the SOE to James Bond is commendable, even super-secret agents will be broken down by simple bureaucracy.
The story mainly follows a small group of soldiers, the first of the SOE, who were rescued from Dunkirk and follows them through Operation Postmaster. These were not English upper-class men playing games, or tough orphans grown up to hone their broad skills, becoming fine blades, but men of all walks of life. These men banded together with a single mindset to accomplish the task they were given.
Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation Postmaster: The Top Secret Story Behind 007 by Brian Lett goes into the planning, execution, and the personalities which made this operation a success and paved the road for the SOE’s continued existence. Sometimes the author goes on a stretch, trying to tie the mission and the men to the Bond books, but it is a fun exercise, especially if you read the books. Alas, we’ll never know.
Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation Postmaster: The Top Secret Story Behind 007 by Brian Lett recaps Operation Postmaster and the men who made it a success. One of them is James Bond’s creator Ian Fleming who got his ideas for his novels while working in British intelligence.
Operation Postmaster was conducted by British Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF) in January 1942, when World War II was starting to ramp up. The objective of Postmaster was to board German and Italian ships which were anchored in Fernando Po (Spanish Guinea), and sail them to Lagos.
The SOE and SSRF were on their own during the operation, as British authorities refused to support them since they were breaching Spanish neutrality, even though it was assumed that the Spanish, if they joined the war, would be on the side of the Axis. Not surprisingly, these same authorities had no problems with taking credit for the operation.
The author did not set out to write a thriller, real people have to deal with real problems which take time to be solved. They can’t be solved in a 20 second conversation with the right people, or with the point of a gun. While the effort to compare the men of the SOE to James Bond is commendable, even super-secret agents will be broken down by simple bureaucracy.
The story mainly follows a small group of soldiers, the first of the SOE, who were rescued from Dunkirk and follows them through Operation Postmaster. These were not English upper-class men playing games, or tough orphans grown up to hone their broad skills, becoming fine blades, but men of all walks of life. These men banded together with a single mindset to accomplish the task they were given.
Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation Postmaster: The Top Secret Story Behind 007 by Brian Lett goes into the planning, execution, and the personalities which made this operation a success and paved the road for the SOE’s continued existence. Sometimes the author goes on a stretch, trying to tie the mission and the men to the Bond books, but it is a fun exercise, especially if you read the books. Alas, we’ll never know.
January 9, 2020
AUTHOR’S BIO
http://www.brianlettauthor.com/about....
WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?
Anyone who enjoys history or WWII military operations.
SYNOPSIS
Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation POSTMASTER: The Untold Top Secret Story, is a historical look at just one of the SOE’s missions in West Africa. The author draws parallels between this mission, the makeup of the SOE, and Ian Fleming’s James Bond series.
The story follows a small group of soldiers from Dunkirk through special operations training to mission “Operation Postmaster.” Brian Lett explains how Ian Fleming was involved with the SOE, how he knew the individuals involved, and how he incorporated certain characteristics from each member into his fictional character James Bond. Brian breaks down the makeup of the SOE and the code words and letters utilized during the time and how Ian Fleming incorporated those into his series.
Operation Postmaster is the tell of a small group of highly motivated soldiers from all walks of life and multiple nationalities banding together to accomplish a single goal. These soldiers trained in England and Scotland, and then went to work on the Spanish island of Fernando Po, now known as Bioko, off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. The story describes the trails and tribulations that the SOE went through just to be able to do their job. From the pushback of the Admiralty, to the international political scene.
The detailed planning, the timely execution, and the personal fortitude of the men is quite evident. The fact that they received almost no help from their own military only added to the tale. The British General Officer Commanding (GOC) West Africa Command refused to support the mission. The only way they could accomplish this mission was to get help from the Governor of Nigeria.
CONCLUSION
Operation Postmaster is sometimes thrilling, but for the most part it just tedious. This is in no part due to the author, but due to the lack of support from the British military. In order to tell the story, the author has to incorporate the long delays, the trials, and tribulations that the men had to go through. When the story really picks up it is very good. Overall, I found it an interesting read but one I could do without. The whole operation just seemed a waste of resources for little gain and the possible international ramifications. The way the story is told it seems that the whole operation was just to prove that the SOE could “do it.”
Although there are similarities between the code names of the soldiers and Fleming’s books, there is no evidence that he used this particular mission to from his James Bond 007 series. It is evident that he used his experiences working with the SOE for the background of his series, but I believe the author put too much emphasis on this one mission. My greatest disappointment is that Ian Fleming, although promoted heavily on the dust cover, features less than I expected.
Acknowledgment
My sincere thanks go to: The Author, NetGalley, and the Publisher, for affording me the opportunity to review Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation POSTMASTER: The Untold Top Secret Story.
http://www.brianlettauthor.com/about....
WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?
Anyone who enjoys history or WWII military operations.
SYNOPSIS
Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation POSTMASTER: The Untold Top Secret Story, is a historical look at just one of the SOE’s missions in West Africa. The author draws parallels between this mission, the makeup of the SOE, and Ian Fleming’s James Bond series.
The story follows a small group of soldiers from Dunkirk through special operations training to mission “Operation Postmaster.” Brian Lett explains how Ian Fleming was involved with the SOE, how he knew the individuals involved, and how he incorporated certain characteristics from each member into his fictional character James Bond. Brian breaks down the makeup of the SOE and the code words and letters utilized during the time and how Ian Fleming incorporated those into his series.
Operation Postmaster is the tell of a small group of highly motivated soldiers from all walks of life and multiple nationalities banding together to accomplish a single goal. These soldiers trained in England and Scotland, and then went to work on the Spanish island of Fernando Po, now known as Bioko, off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. The story describes the trails and tribulations that the SOE went through just to be able to do their job. From the pushback of the Admiralty, to the international political scene.
The detailed planning, the timely execution, and the personal fortitude of the men is quite evident. The fact that they received almost no help from their own military only added to the tale. The British General Officer Commanding (GOC) West Africa Command refused to support the mission. The only way they could accomplish this mission was to get help from the Governor of Nigeria.
CONCLUSION
Operation Postmaster is sometimes thrilling, but for the most part it just tedious. This is in no part due to the author, but due to the lack of support from the British military. In order to tell the story, the author has to incorporate the long delays, the trials, and tribulations that the men had to go through. When the story really picks up it is very good. Overall, I found it an interesting read but one I could do without. The whole operation just seemed a waste of resources for little gain and the possible international ramifications. The way the story is told it seems that the whole operation was just to prove that the SOE could “do it.”
Although there are similarities between the code names of the soldiers and Fleming’s books, there is no evidence that he used this particular mission to from his James Bond 007 series. It is evident that he used his experiences working with the SOE for the background of his series, but I believe the author put too much emphasis on this one mission. My greatest disappointment is that Ian Fleming, although promoted heavily on the dust cover, features less than I expected.
Acknowledgment
My sincere thanks go to: The Author, NetGalley, and the Publisher, for affording me the opportunity to review Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation POSTMASTER: The Untold Top Secret Story.
January 11, 2020
SYNOPSIS
Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation POSTMASTER: The Untold Top Secret Story, is a historical look at just one of the SOE’s missions in West Africa. The author draws parallels between this mission, the makeup of the SOE, and Ian Fleming’s James Bond series.
The story follows a small group of soldiers from Dunkirk through special operations training to mission “Operation Postmaster.” Brian Lett explains how Ian Fleming was involved with the SOE, how he knew the individuals involved, and how he incorporated certain characteristics from each member into his fictional character James Bond. Brian breaks down the makeup of the SOE and the code words and letters utilized during the time and how Ian Fleming incorporated those into his series.
Operation Postmaster is the tell of a small group of highly motivated soldiers from all walks of life and multiple nationalities banding together to accomplish a single goal. These soldiers trained in England and Scotland, and then went to work on the Spanish island of Fernando Po, now known as Bioko, off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. The story describes the trails and tribulations that the SOE went through just to be able to do their job. From the pushback of the Admiralty, to the international political scene.
The detailed planning, the timely execution, and the personal fortitude of the men is quite evident. The fact that they received almost no help from their own military only added to the tale. The British General Officer Commanding (GOC) West Africa Command refused to support the mission. The only way they could accomplish this mission was to get help from the Governor of Nigeria.
CONCLUSION
Operation Postmaster is sometimes thrilling, but for the most part it just tedious. This is in no part due to the author, but due to the lack of support from the British military. In order to tell the story, the author has to incorporate the long delays, the trials, and tribulations that the men had to go through. When the story really picks up it is very good. Overall, I found it an interesting read but one I could do without. The whole operation just seemed a waste of resources for little gain and the possible international ramifications. The way the story is told it seems that the whole operation was just to prove that the SOE could “do it.”
Although there are similarities between the code names of the soldiers and Fleming’s books, there is no evidence that he used this particular mission to from his James Bond 007 series. It is evident that he used his experiences working with the SOE for the background of his series, but I believe the author put too much emphasis on this one mission. My greatest disappointment is that Ian Fleming, although promoted heavily on the dust cover, features less than I expected.
Acknowledgment
My sincere thanks go to: The Author, NetGalley, and the Publisher, for affording me the opportunity to review Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation POSTMASTER: The Untold Top Secret Story.
Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation POSTMASTER: The Untold Top Secret Story, is a historical look at just one of the SOE’s missions in West Africa. The author draws parallels between this mission, the makeup of the SOE, and Ian Fleming’s James Bond series.
The story follows a small group of soldiers from Dunkirk through special operations training to mission “Operation Postmaster.” Brian Lett explains how Ian Fleming was involved with the SOE, how he knew the individuals involved, and how he incorporated certain characteristics from each member into his fictional character James Bond. Brian breaks down the makeup of the SOE and the code words and letters utilized during the time and how Ian Fleming incorporated those into his series.
Operation Postmaster is the tell of a small group of highly motivated soldiers from all walks of life and multiple nationalities banding together to accomplish a single goal. These soldiers trained in England and Scotland, and then went to work on the Spanish island of Fernando Po, now known as Bioko, off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. The story describes the trails and tribulations that the SOE went through just to be able to do their job. From the pushback of the Admiralty, to the international political scene.
The detailed planning, the timely execution, and the personal fortitude of the men is quite evident. The fact that they received almost no help from their own military only added to the tale. The British General Officer Commanding (GOC) West Africa Command refused to support the mission. The only way they could accomplish this mission was to get help from the Governor of Nigeria.
CONCLUSION
Operation Postmaster is sometimes thrilling, but for the most part it just tedious. This is in no part due to the author, but due to the lack of support from the British military. In order to tell the story, the author has to incorporate the long delays, the trials, and tribulations that the men had to go through. When the story really picks up it is very good. Overall, I found it an interesting read but one I could do without. The whole operation just seemed a waste of resources for little gain and the possible international ramifications. The way the story is told it seems that the whole operation was just to prove that the SOE could “do it.”
Although there are similarities between the code names of the soldiers and Fleming’s books, there is no evidence that he used this particular mission to from his James Bond 007 series. It is evident that he used his experiences working with the SOE for the background of his series, but I believe the author put too much emphasis on this one mission. My greatest disappointment is that Ian Fleming, although promoted heavily on the dust cover, features less than I expected.
Acknowledgment
My sincere thanks go to: The Author, NetGalley, and the Publisher, for affording me the opportunity to review Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation POSTMASTER: The Untold Top Secret Story.
December 6, 2019
"Ian Fleming and SOE's Operation POSTMASTER: The Top Secret Story Behind 007" eBook was published in 2012 and was written by Brian Gordon Lett (http://www.brianlettauthor.com). Mr. Lett has published six books, all dealing with the history of WWII.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘G’. The story told takes place in 1941 and early 1942.
The primary goal of the book is to tell of the story of how the Special Operations Executive (SOE) planned and carried out Operation Postmaster. This was an operation executed by the British SOE on the Spanish island of Fernando Po, now known as Bioko, off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. A highly trained group of British agents were sent into Fernando Po to sink or capture two Axis vessels in the harbor. Their actions had to be deniable by the British as Fernando Po was part of neutral Spain.
Ian Fleming, who later went on to write the James Bond series of novels, was serving in British Naval Intelligence at the time of this operation. This book ties Fleming to the SOE operation and speculates on how the heroes of that action contributed to the character of James Bond.
I enjoyed the 10 hours I spent reading this 240-page history. I found this book interesting just on the SOE operation, but the additional connection to the future James Bond was also enjoyable. I read all of Flemings novels when I was a teenager. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘G’. The story told takes place in 1941 and early 1942.
The primary goal of the book is to tell of the story of how the Special Operations Executive (SOE) planned and carried out Operation Postmaster. This was an operation executed by the British SOE on the Spanish island of Fernando Po, now known as Bioko, off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. A highly trained group of British agents were sent into Fernando Po to sink or capture two Axis vessels in the harbor. Their actions had to be deniable by the British as Fernando Po was part of neutral Spain.
Ian Fleming, who later went on to write the James Bond series of novels, was serving in British Naval Intelligence at the time of this operation. This book ties Fleming to the SOE operation and speculates on how the heroes of that action contributed to the character of James Bond.
I enjoyed the 10 hours I spent reading this 240-page history. I found this book interesting just on the SOE operation, but the additional connection to the future James Bond was also enjoyable. I read all of Flemings novels when I was a teenager. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
December 7, 2019
This is a well-researched adventure story. Operation Postmaster was a highly controversial, extremely dangerous secret operation in West Africa during World War II. The Official Secrets Act kept the story out of the public eye long after the end of the war, and it was an enterprising modern author, Brian Lett, who researched and told the tale long after it happened.
Although Ian Fleming’s name will act as
Although Ian Fleming’s name will act as
March 12, 2020
The description of SOE's operation Postmaster to steal Italian and German ships from Spanish Guinea during II World War is very accurate and well researched, but the book does not deliver its promise: the connection which Ian Fleming is obvious (he was working for British intelligence during the war), but the idea that James Bond's novels were born out of this specific operation is somehow far fetched and not well established by the authors.
July 15, 2022
A Magnificent Effort
There are books that hold tremendous promise to the reader, based upon the subject matter and purported knowledge of the author. Too often, the result is disappointing. Such was the case with this book. Bottom line: the writing is not interesting. The subject is terrifically fascinating, however. The effort in getting to the meat of the story, the actual operation, is not worth the effort. Too bad.
There are books that hold tremendous promise to the reader, based upon the subject matter and purported knowledge of the author. Too often, the result is disappointing. Such was the case with this book. Bottom line: the writing is not interesting. The subject is terrifically fascinating, however. The effort in getting to the meat of the story, the actual operation, is not worth the effort. Too bad.
April 30, 2024
The bibliography is worrisomely lacking and the writing style is awkward, but if you're looking for a quick spitfire summary of Operation Postmaster and the key figures, this does the job. Comparing the key figures and events to the Bond books and Fleming's writing was enjoyable, but good grief was this difficult to read. Rather than read like engaging nonfiction, this read closer to a textbook but with a timeline that keeps jumping back and forth ?? idk, it was all right.
May 21, 2025
A fascinating read about one of the unknown - and at that point in the war unusual - success which was kept secret for a long long time.
Add in that Ian Fleming in his capacity as a naval secret service person was involved and its probable link to his James Bond stories gave it an interesting connection.
The level of research and detail is great and whilst the “Bond” link is somewhat hypothetical- since as far as I know Fleming never actually confirmed such it made a good and likeable read.
Add in that Ian Fleming in his capacity as a naval secret service person was involved and its probable link to his James Bond stories gave it an interesting connection.
The level of research and detail is great and whilst the “Bond” link is somewhat hypothetical- since as far as I know Fleming never actually confirmed such it made a good and likeable read.
November 18, 2022
A must read for James Bond fans. Operation Postmaster was in 1942 and Ian Fleming was a part of the planning team. Having read Casino Royale, its almost a carbon copy of the action that denied by the government until the 1970s. Very enjoyable read for fans of WW2 commando raids.
Brian Lett writes a great tale of derring do!
Brian Lett writes a great tale of derring do!
November 30, 2020
Interesting story that would have made a great 10 page magazine article but not a book. The author constantly repeated material to the point of tedium. I'd suggest reading the Wikipedia article on "Operation Postmaster" instead.
November 9, 2020
Very interesting. Definitely worth reading.
December 3, 2024
Very different from the movie that was based on it!!
May 18, 2020
Interesting
A very detailed look at an operation that had to be kept secret during undertaking and long afterward. Much like a documentary not a novel. I am surprised that so many people knew details of the plan and yet there is no indication that there were any leaks. The degree of difficulty of the nighttime navigation with only the instruments available at the time, felt under appreciated by the author or perhaps over appreciated by myself.
A very detailed look at an operation that had to be kept secret during undertaking and long afterward. Much like a documentary not a novel. I am surprised that so many people knew details of the plan and yet there is no indication that there were any leaks. The degree of difficulty of the nighttime navigation with only the instruments available at the time, felt under appreciated by the author or perhaps over appreciated by myself.
June 29, 2014
This reads like a boy's own wartime adventure, only this story is true. In 1942 an elite, small and British secret force is created to steal a 8,000 ton Italian passenger liner and a German 200 ton tug boat from a West African Spanish owned port. It's gripping stuff.
The main reason I read this book was that Ian Fleming was involved in the operation in a administrative role and as the author claims, Operation Postmaster gave him the ideas and characters for James Bond. (He was even working for a man called 'M' and the agents had a Licence to Kill). As a Bond and Fleming fan, it's interesting to see where his ideas came from and I think this very readable and engrossing book offers up a lot of clues to Fleming's influences.
A must read for any Bond fans.
The main reason I read this book was that Ian Fleming was involved in the operation in a administrative role and as the author claims, Operation Postmaster gave him the ideas and characters for James Bond. (He was even working for a man called 'M' and the agents had a Licence to Kill). As a Bond and Fleming fan, it's interesting to see where his ideas came from and I think this very readable and engrossing book offers up a lot of clues to Fleming's influences.
A must read for any Bond fans.
August 12, 2013
I rather like these well-researched tales of wartime derring-do. This is a crisp, traditional if slightly hero-worshipping account of a daring SOE raid. It's exciting to read, with the added interest of discovering the inspiration for Fleming's famous fictional icon in the real-life characters of the secret agents.
November 30, 2016
good but not brilliant, the story is interesting and multiple links are made to James Bond, but there is no facts to back this up. nevertheless the story is enjoyable. I would have liked a quick history of what happened next. or am I jumping the gun for a sequel? who knows.
October 22, 2013
Not a bad read but some of the details can be a bit of a drag at times. Certain things get explained multiple times as well. Overall a good read but slow going at times.
April 7, 2016
What is probably a very exciting story of wartime espionage made surprisingly dull in the presentation.
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