A Flawed Hero

Thomas Edward (T.E.) Lawrence, born in 1888 was a short, teetotal ragamuffin who became one of the most famous officers to serve in the British Army: Lawrence of Arabia. His adventures began when he started work as an archaeologist and researcher on a site in Carchemish ( a frontier town between Turkey and Syria ). It was here that his love of the Arabic culture grew. He forged a close though unusual friendship with a young Syrian water boy ‘Dahoum’ ( ‘Little dark one’) who he taught to read and write in exchange for spoken Arabic lessons. Dahoum even gave Lawrence some robes which he religiously wore – an image which became famous.

In 1916 the Arabs launched a revolt against the Turkish empire, and Britain was quick to snap up Lawrence for his local knowledge and connections. Despite his notorious disrespect for authority, he found himself posted to Cairo as a Military Liaison Officer to the Arabs. He was happy to take on this role and is rumoured to have pursued Arab independence primarily as a gift to his young Arab friend. His success in this military role and image as an exotic, adventurous Englishman made him ideal subject matter for war correspondant Lowell Thomas who took photos and filmed him - media that became famous after the war when Thomas took it on a world tour. Continuing to adopt Arab customs (going to the extreme of crossing the desert on foot), speak the language and wear the attire, he became well liked and respected in the Arab community and eventually held considerable sway over the King of Iraq.

Following the war, Lawrence continued to support the idea of Arab independence though was devastated when Iraq, Syria and Palestine were mandated to France and Britain. He also suffered a crushing personal tragedy when his Arab friend Dahoum succumbed to typhus while Lawrence had been in England. However, though Lawrence had tired of the Arab campaign rebellions against the new colonial rule in Iraq caused Winston Churchill himself to enlist Lawrence’s aid. With diplomacy and pre-existing Arab support Lawrence was able to resolve the situation in a way that Bush and Blair should envy.

In 1922 Lawrence sneaked his way into the RAF using a pseudonym to avoid unwanted media attention. He even refused war medals from the King in an effort to remain more anonymous. In his new profession he was able to indulge an old love of speed and engines, and also dedicate time into revising the work he had written abroad – namely ‘The Seven Pillars of Wisdom’ and ‘Revolt in the Desert’. His literature is peppered with cultural observations, detail of his military dealings and stirring poetic style. One particularly eloquent verse, clearly dedicated to the late Dahoum:

I loved you, so I drew these tides of men into my hands and wrote my will across the sky in stars
To earn you Freedom, the seven-pillared worthy house,
that your eyes might be shining for me
When we came.
Death seemed my servant on the road, till we were near and saw you waiting:
When you smiled, and in sorrowful envy he outran me and took you apart:
Into his quietness..

In 1935 Lawrence was riding his motorcycle around a country lane in Dorset when he swerved to avoid two children on their bikes. He landed hard, sustained serious head injuries and never regained consciousness. A humble interment in his Dorset village was the end to an intriguing life. Since then revelations and rumours have made clear his flaws: his bizarre history of whipping himself, his obsession with Dahoum, his fabrication of an uncle who beat him. However, still maintained in the popular consciousness by the Peter O’Toole film, numerous plays, and his own catalogue of literature, Lawrence of Arabia continues to be an evocative figure in British history.