Britain sent the real James Bond to spy on Cold War Poland

The communists were expecting him
Files from the Polish security service archives show the details of the real-life Bond, a 36-year-old agent from Devon
Files from the Polish security service archives show the details of the real-life Bond, a 36-year-old agent from Devon

In fiction, James Bond has a knack of landing jobs in exotic locations, pursuing villains to their lairs off the shores of Jamaica or in an ancient castle in Japan.

When the real James Bond set off on a shady diplomatic mission for the British government in the 1960s he had to make do with Warsaw in winter.

A file discovered in the Polish security service archives has hinted at the exploits of a genuine British civil servant operating during the Cold War who shared agent 007’s name and penchant for women, if not his lavish lifestyle.

James Albert Bond was 36 when he was sent to the British embassy in Poland on February 18, 1964, nearly 11 years after Ian Fleming introduced his agent