Lawrence of Arabia

[Dorsetman]

Lawrence of Arabia as he was more widely known, was a larger-than-life character who had a local connection to Dorset alongside his worldwide notoriety. Thomas Edward Lawrence joined the army as a British intelligence officer and was sent to the Middle East as a cartographer to create maps of the terrain for advancing troops.
This is when he initially started his pivotal role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War and soon rose in stature to become an iconic figure in British, American and Middle Eastern history.

Early Life and Education

Born in Tremadoc, Wales, in 1888, Lawrence was a sensitive and introspective child. He excelled in his studies, particularly in languages and history, and developed a deep interest in the Middle East.
He graduated from Oxford University in 1910 and worked as an Archaeologist in Syria and Mesopotamia which started his interest and understanding of Arab culture.

World War I and the Arab Revolt

When Lawrence joined the Army at the outbreak of the 1st World War in 1914, he was assigned to the Arab Bureau in Cairo. He was fluent in Arabic and also his knowledge of the region led to him becoming a leading figure in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
He played a pivotal role in uniting the disparate Arab tribes under the leadership of Prince Faisal of Hejaz and helped organise guerrilla raids against the Ottoman forces which later led to the capture of the strategically important port of Aqaba.

His bravery and leadership earned him the admiration of the Arabs, who gave him the title "Lawrence of Arabia."

Post-War Years and Legacy

After the war, Lawrence became increasingly disillusioned with British policy in the Middle East. He felt betrayed by the British that the promises that were made to the Arabs for independence were not honoured and he later struggled with his own identity and his role in the war effort.

In 1922, Lawrence joined the Royal Tank Corps under the pseudonym of T.E Shaw (surname taken from close friend George Bernard Shaw), hoping to escape the public eye and live a normal life. Once his identity was unveiled he resigned from his post in the Army regiment.

Lawrence spent the rest of his life writing and translating, and he became a respected scholar of Middle Eastern history. He also continued to advocate for Arab independence and to promote understanding between the Arab and Western worlds.

Lawrence died in 1935 at the age of 46 when he suffered fatal injuries after crashing his Brough Superior motorcycle. His death was a tragic loss to the world of literature, scholarship and diplomacy. There is much controversy around the events leading up to his crash and even today, this subject has been discussed in many films and documentaries.

He is buried in a small churchyard in Moreton, Dorset rather than the state funeral in Westminster Abbey which was originally planned.
Not far from his grave is his beloved cottage 'Clouds Hill' where he spent most of his time writing and entertaining friends.

A Complex and Contradictory Figure

Despite his flaws and contradictions, Lawrence of Arabia is remembered as a man of extraordinary courage, intelligence, and compassion. His legacy continues to inspire generations of writers, historians, and adventurers.

Further reading on T.E. Lawrence can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._E._Lawrence

(image courtesy of Wikipedia by Unknown author - pavellas.blogspot.com, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7367070)