Lawrence, Thomas Edward

Lawrence, Thomas Edward (1888-1935), soldier, writer, b. Tremadoc, Caernarvonshire, Wales.

'Lawrence of Arabia', as Ned Lawrence became known, worked as an archeologist and traveled in the Middle East before the First World War (1914-18).

During this war, he was sent to help the Emir Feisal (later King Feisal of Iraq) in a revolt against the Turks in Syria and Palestine. He dressed as an Arab and adopted their manners and led attacks against the Turks riding on a camel. He was a brilliant leader and harassed the Turks' lines of communication, destroying railway lines and blowing up trains and bridges.

Once he was captured but he managed to escape. The Turks offered a reward of £20,000 for the capture of 'El Orans, destroyer of engines.' They did not know Lawrence was not an Arab.

After the war he told his story in a famous book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Later he wanted to avoid being recognised as 'Lawrence of Arabia' and he served in the Royal Air Force under a false name.

His hobby was driving a motor cycle very fast around the countryside. In May 1935, he swerved to avoid two children and was thrown over the handle-bars. He died from his injuries.

See T.E. Lawrence Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph