Patrick Dalzel-Job facts for kids

Patrick Dalzel-Job (born June 1, 1913 – died October 14, 2003) was a brave British naval officer. He worked in intelligence and was a commando during World War II. He was also very talented. He could speak many languages and was a skilled sailor, navigator, parachutist, diver, and skier.

Many people believe Dalzel-Job was the real-life inspiration for Ian Fleming's famous spy, James Bond. Fleming created the character 007.

Early Life and Adventures

Patrick Dalzel-Job was born in London. He was the only son of Captain Ernest Dalzel-Job. His father sadly died in a big battle during World War I in 1916. After this, Patrick and his mother lived in different places. They spent time in Switzerland, where he learned to ski and sail.

Sailing the Seas

In 1931, they came back to the UK. Patrick built his own sailing boat, called the Mary Fortune. For the next two years, he and his mother sailed all around the British coast.

In 1937, they sailed to Norway. They spent two years exploring the beautiful Norwegian coastline. During this time, Patrick became very good at speaking Norwegian. They even had a Norwegian schoolgirl named Bjørg Bangsund join them as crew. She was from the city of Tromsø.

A Hero in World War II

When World War II began, Patrick Dalzel-Job joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in December 1939. He worked on a large tugboat from January to March 1940.

Saving Lives in Norway

From April to June 1940, he served with Allied forces in Norway. During this time, he did something incredibly brave. He was given a direct order to stop helping civilians leave the city of Narvik. But he knew people were in danger. He disobeyed the order and continued to evacuate them.

His actions saved about 5,000 Norwegians! Because of this, King Haakon of Norway gave him a special award in 1943. It was called the Ridderkors (Knight's Cross) of St. Olav. This award was very important. It actually saved him from getting into big trouble with the military for disobeying orders.

Secret Missions and Commandos

In June 1942, Dalzel-Job was asked to gather information about Norway's west coast. A few months later, Lord Louis Mountbatten chose him for a special mission. This mission involved commando raids in Norway, using fast boats.

From 1943 to early 1944, he trained with special small submarines. These were called X-Craft and Welman midget submarines. He also completed parachute training.

As the chances for big battles in Norway seemed to fade, Dalzel-Job visited London. There, he found out about a secret unit called 30 AU (Assault Unit) Commando. This was a special group that worked for the Naval Intelligence Division. He joined this unit.

D-Day and Beyond

He worked under Commander Ian Fleming, who was a personal assistant to the head of Naval Intelligence. Patrick was promoted to lieutenant commander. He landed in Normandy, France, on D+4. This was just four days after the famous D-Day landings. He had two Royal Marine Commandos with him. He also had a special order signed by U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower. This order allowed him to go anywhere through Allied lines. He could attack specific targets in German-held areas.

Later, he helped disable a German warship called the German destroyer Z29 in Bremerhaven. He also helped take control of the city of Bremen.

Life After the War

After the war, on May 24, 1945, Dalzel-Job returned to England. He immediately asked the Navy to send him back to Norway. He wanted to find Bjørg Bangsund, the Norwegian schoolgirl who had sailed with him years before. In 1945, she was 19 and he was 32.

Family and New Beginnings

He found her at a train station in Oslo. Three weeks later, on June 26, 1945, they got married in Oslo. After their wedding, they moved back to Edinburgh, Scotland.

For a while, they lived in Onich, near Fort William. Their only child, Iain, was born there. Later, the family moved to Canada. Patrick served in the Royal Canadian Navy. Their home in northern British Columbia was a cozy log cabin.

In 1960, they returned to Scotland. They lived in Lochalsh. Patrick briefly taught math, English, and chemistry. Sadly, his wife, Bjørg, passed away in 1986.

Their son, Iain Dalzel-Job, became a major in the Scots Guards. He led a company of soldiers in a battle during the Falklands War. This was the assault on Mount Tumbledown.

The Real-Life James Bond?

Patrick Dalzel-Job later said that Ian Fleming told him he was the inspiration for James Bond. However, Patrick added, "I have never read a Bond book or seen a Bond movie. They are not my style." He also said, "I only ever loved one woman [Bjørg], and I'm not a drinking man." He preferred a quiet life after his exciting adventures.

Books and Legacy

In 1991, he released his memoirs. Memoirs are like a personal story of someone's life. His book was called From Arctic Snow to Dust of Normandy (ISBN: 0-9519788-0-2). It was later republished as Arctic Snow to Dust of Normandy.

See also

• Ian Fleming
• Inspirations for James Bond