Chocolate Chip Navy

__M__

Was I dreaming or did Fleming write Bond saying to someone, "I have no idea which book" that his naval experience was as part of the "chocolate chip", or "chocolate" navy? I am trying to find the reference and I am wondering if I dreamed it. Can someone tell me if I am losing my mind?

Thank you.

Asp9mm

Chocolate Sailor was the term. Anne and her friends unkindly referred to Fleming as one. It was/is a derogatory term implying that he was a pretend sailor and more fitting to be on a tin of chocolates than fighting aboard ships.

Silhouette Man

Yes, you'll find the reference to a "chocolate sailor" in Fleming's Thunderball (1961) in the chapter where Bond boards the submarine and then recounts his past as a commander in the RNVR.

superado

Asp9mm wrote:

Chocolate Sailor was the term. Anne and her friends unkindly referred to Fleming as one. It was/is a derogatory term implying that he was a pretend sailor and more fitting to be on a tin of chocolates than fighting aboard ships.

Anne, and more so her clique, are now insignificant; had they never existed, Western Civilization would not be any worse for wear. The irony of their barbs is that from a practical and strategic consideration, IF was significantly indispensable compared to the general active duty personnel, though to not disparage their worth.

Barbel

SM is quite correct. Here's the quote:

"[Commander Pedersen] Welcome aboard. Commander Bond, it's a pleasure to have a member of the Royal Navy visit the ship. Ever been in subs before?"
"I have," said Bond, "but only as a supercargo. I was in intelligence- R.N.V.R. Special Branch. Strictly a chocolate sailor."
The captain laughed. "That's good! And you, Mr Leiter?"
"No, Captain. But I used to have one of my own. You operated it with a sort of rubber bulb and tube. Trouble was they'd never let me have enough depth of water in the bath to see what she could really do."

Chapter 20, Thunderball by Ian Fleming, Jonathan Cape 1961. I am obliged to mention that the book is based on a screen treatment by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham and Ian Fleming.


This is one of the many times that Bond and Fleming's experiences blur together. Of course, one of the frequent criticisms of Fleming's novels is that they are humourless... 8-)

__M__

Thanks everyone. It was driving me a little mad that I could not remember for sure where I read it.

Revelator

Barbel wrote:

Chapter 20, Thunderball by Ian Fleming, Jonathan Cape 1961. I am obliged to mention that the book is based on a screen treatment by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham and Ian Fleming.

I applaud your attention to detail , though I suspect the dialogue in that scene was all pure Fleming. IIRC McClory was even against the idea of Bond tracking Largo in a sub.

This is one of the many times that Bond and Fleming's experiences blur together. Of course, one of the frequent criticisms of Fleming's novels is that they are humourless... 8-)

Yes, I always feel like strangling the folks who insist on that. True, the first three novels are short on humor, but afterward there are plenty of witticisms, wisecracks, aphorisms, etc. The "Bond is humorless" people are probably under the impression that humor consists of stupid puns, like in the movies.

Barbel

Yes, I'm sure that the dialogue is pure Fleming too.
I'm glad you agree re the humour in Fleming's writing. It's not as obvious as in the films, but as you say there's plenty of it.