The part played in Britain’s wars by forces from the Empire, the sacrifices made, the countless honours won for gallantry, were airbrushed out for a long time from most accounts of history written in this country. It is only recently that there has been a degree of restitution with some recognition of the contributions made by these men and women.

There has, however, been very little chronicled about the espionage missions which were undertaken by colonial subjects, often at great risk to themselves. And it is only now that the tale has emerged internationally of a spy who led the most extraordinary life of intrigue and danger in the Second World War.

The agent, codenamed Silver, was recruited by Peter Fleming, then working for British military intelligence. Fleming’s brother, Ian, was to draw on some of the experience of his glamorous and dashing sibling in creating James Bond. Peter had a further role in the success of 007: it was he, an established author, who persuaded Jonathan Cape to publish the first of the series, Casino Royale.

MORE:    http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/second-world-war-espionage-bhagat-ram-talwar-peter-fleming-a7556611.html