The Real Bond

I did notice something disturbing in the new Bond film, no not the 'private parts' torture scene, I mean something even more disturbing...During a dialogue scene between Bond and Vesper Lynd, they let drop that Bond was a poor, middle-class scholarship boy at Oxford, hence the very large chip on his shoulder...This, of course, is nothing by egalitarian propaganda, and should be set straight forthwith...

The Real Bond:

November 11, 1921: Bond is born into a wealthy family to a Scottish father, Andrew Bond of Glencoe, and a Swiss mother, Monique Delacroix, from the Canton de Vaud.

Because his father was a foreign representative of the Vickers armament firm, Bond's early education was entirely abroad in France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Bond developed fluent command of French and German while in Europe.

July 5, 1933: Bond's parents die in climbing accident in the Aiguilles Rouges above Chamonix, France. After this tragedy, Bond is placed under the guardianship of his aunt, Miss Charmain Bond, and lives with her in the hamlet of Pett Bottom near Canterbury in Kent, England. Bond inherits his father's money (1ooo pounds per year) and his 1930 41/2 litre Bentley with supercharger by Amherst Villiers. Bond completes his pre-public schooling under his aunt's care.

1935-1936: Bond attends Eton College. During his school break/holiday time, Bond spends much of it in Austria and Switzerland with Hannes Oberhauser who is something of a father figure to Bond. He teaches Bond how to ski at the Hannes Schneider School at St. Anton in Arlberg, Austria. Bond also does some mountain climbing during this time.

1936 - 1938: Bond is removed from Eton due to an alleged incident with one of the boys' maids. Bond's aunt manages to get him transferred to Fettes College which was his father's old school. Fettes is located on the lands of Comely Bank, Edinburgh, Scotland. Bond continues to spend school breaks/holidays in Austria and Switzerland. He also becomes an avid golfer and plays at the Royal St. Marks Golf Course during the golfing season. Bond also attended the University of Geneva while in Switzerland.

Note: Hannes Oberhauser is killed under mysterious circumstances just after World War II. Later Bond is able to use his position in the British Secret Service to hunt down the murderer and exact revenge. See the short story "Octopussy".

1938 - 1949: An old Vickers colleague of Bond's father sends a letter of introduction for Bond to the Admiralty. Bond claims to be nineteen in order to gain admission to the Admiralty. Bond was commissioned into the Special Branch of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves, ending the war with the rank of Commander. Bond works for SO/SOE throughout WWII, and transfers, with SOE, to the British Secret Service after the war.

1950: In December 1950, Bond becomes a Double-O agent and holds the agent number '007'.

In 1954 Bond was appointed a C. M. G. (Companion to the Order of St. Michael and St. George) and in 1964 he is offered a Knighthood, which he declines.

No middle-class scholarship boy here...