BNPS_MedalsOfOriginalMFromMI5Emerge_05.JPG
BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833)
Pic: Lockdales/BNPS
William Melville's police whistle.
The little-known tale of the original British spy codenamed 'M', a role made famous by the James Bond films, has been revealed after his service medals emerged for sale.
Former police detective William Melville used the legendary cryptonym while reporting back to the War Office in the early 1900s before becoming the first chief of the British Secret Service Bureau.
Melville, who hunted Jack the Ripper before becoming a spy, would sign top secret documents with the first letter of his surname - 'M' - while working for the forerunners of intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6.
The memorabilia will go under the hammer with an estimate of £1,200 on November 19.
Pic: Lockdales/BNPS
William Melville's police whistle.
The little-known tale of the original British spy codenamed 'M', a role made famous by the James Bond films, has been revealed after his service medals emerged for sale.
Former police detective William Melville used the legendary cryptonym while reporting back to the War Office in the early 1900s before becoming the first chief of the British Secret Service Bureau.
Melville, who hunted Jack the Ripper before becoming a spy, would sign top secret documents with the first letter of his surname - 'M' - while working for the forerunners of intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6.
The memorabilia will go under the hammer with an estimate of £1,200 on November 19.
©Lockdales 8 Nov 2016 806x1224 / 483.6KB