Editing Desmond Llewelyn (section)

==Biography==
===Early life===
[[File:Blaen-y-Pant House, Newport - geograph.org.uk - 1721033.jpg|thumb|Blaen-y-Pant House, the birthplace of Desmond Llewelyn]]
Llewelyn was born on 12 September 1914 at Blaen-y-Pant House in Bettws in [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], the son of Mia (née Wilkinson) and Ivor Llewelyn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commanderbond.net/sections/articles/biography_desmond_llewelyn.php3|title=Desmond Llewelyn Biography|access-date=19 November 2010}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Desmond's father was a coal mining engineer, who notably purchased the first [[Bentley]] production automobile, a [[Bentley 3 Litre|Bentley 3-litre]] from [[W. O. Bentley]] in 1921.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Very First Production Bentley Up For Sale|url=https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1061608_very-first-production-bentley-up-for-sale|access-date=2021-01-12|website=Motor Authority|date=15 June 2011 |language=en}}</ref> His paternal grandfather, Llewelyn Llewelyn of Kings Hill was the [[High Sheriff of Monmouthshire]] as well as General Manager of the [[PD Ports|Powell-Dyffryn Steam Coal Company]].

While Llewelyn originally wanted to be a minister, he became involved in theatrical productions during his education at [[Radley College]]. Initially working as a stagehand, he was encouraged to take on more acting roles by his fellow pupil [[Dennis Price]]. During his education, Llewelyn gained renown as a skilled sportsman, particularly as a rugby player and he remained a fan of the game throughout his life.<ref name="WBio">{{cite web |last1=Hyde |first1=Robert |title=Llewelyn, Desmond Wilkinson (1914 - 1999), actor |url=https://biography.wales/article/s12-LLEW-WIL-1914 |website=Dictionary of Welsh Biography |access-date=4 January 2024}}</ref> The young Llewelyn would play rugby for [[Newport RFC]] and can be seen wearing the club tie in ''[[The Living Daylights]]'' as well as that of Malpas Cricket Club in ''[[Octopussy]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spaiser |first1=Matt |title=Q's History Through Ties |url=https://www.bondsuits.com/qs-history-through-ties/ |website=Bond Suits |access-date=4 August 2022 |date=7 September 2015}}</ref>

Despite the objections of his father, Llewelyn decided to pursue an acting career, and was accepted into the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] in 1934. In 1937 Llewelyn found work with a number of small stage roles, working with Matthew Forsyth and the Forsyth Players, and it was through this company that Llewelyn met Pamela Mary Pantlin whom he married in 1938. The following year, Llewelyn appeared in his first feature film, the British comedy ''[[Ask a Policeman]]''.<ref name="WBio"></ref>

===Second World War===
Llewelyn's nascent acting career was paused by the [[Second World War|outbreak of war in 1939]], when he was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in the [[Royal Welsh Fusiliers]]. In 1940 his unit was engaged in fighting an entire Panzer division for several days near the French city of Lille, but they were overrun in attempting to retreat to Dunkirk, and Llewelyn was captured. He spent the remainder of the war in prisoner of war camps, first at [[Oflag VII-C|Laufen]], before he was transferred to [[Colditz Castle]] ([[Oflag IV-C]]) following his attempted escape from Laufen by tunnelling out. Llewelyn remained imprisoned at Colditz until it was liberated by Allied forces in 1945.<ref name="WBio"></ref>