This compelling book tells the story of a young boy's progress through the second world war, whilst learning to live with his dysfunctional family and coping with wartime Britain. It also reveals his surprising connection with Ian Fleming's Special Forces intelligence-gathering, Royal Marine Commandos, and the origin of 'a license to kill'. His father was one of the first men to be selected after volunteering for 'very hazardous service' so the author met many of these brave men and reveals hitherto untold stories of their exploits. It becomes clear how, through the experience of his intelligence-gathering unit, Ian Fleming knew of the dangerous missions undertaken by these courageous soldiers, fighting their way through enemy lines to obtain classified German secrets and of the many devices they used on their clandestine missions. This helped him create the character of James Bond.