A weekly newspaper has revealed details of its very own James Bond – a former journalist who helped steal three enemy boats in a daring Second World War raid.

Leonard “Dissy” Dismore, left, was news editor of the Kentish Gazette from 1932 until his call-up in 1939, which saw him eventually become a commando involved in a raid to steal three enemy boats from a Spanish island.

When he joined the war, the 32-year-old was a Territorial Army officer in The Buffs, the Royal East Kent Regiment, but later joined Churchill’s dirty tricks unit, the Special Operations Executive, after being evacuated from Dunkirk.

The Gazette has revealed details of its heroic former employee to mark the release of the latest James Bond film, Skyfall.

Editor Leo Whitlock said: “We were amazed when we first heard about Dissy Dismore’s exploits in the Second World War.

“While we’re very proud to count him as one of our predecessors, we’re a little worried that he has given us an awful lot to live up to!”

In late 1941, Lt Col Dismore was teaching African agents the deadly skills needed to survive in enemy territory when he was chosen to join the commando group planning Operation Postmaster.

The operation aimed to steal the Duchessa D’Aosta, a 9,000-ton Italian liner, and the German tug Likomba, plus a smaller tug, from their moorings on the Spanish island of Fernando Po – an operation which would probably resulted in the secret agents being shot if caught.

However, the raid was a success and saw him decorated by the French and US governments, although Lt Col Dismore was never honoured for his gallantry by his own country.

The raid was on the secret list for more than 50 years so Spanish sensibilities would not be upset.

Lt Col Dismore died of a heart attack while on leave at his home near Canterbury in June 1956 at the age of 49.