Page 2 of 3

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" 1919 by me

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2018 11:25 am
by ALAMO2008
At the Paris Peace Conference at Versailles in Jan 1919 Lawrence was Advisor to Prince Feisal trying to get him a Country after he had fought on the Allies Side with the promise of Independence from Ottoman Rule.

It was here Augustus John met Lawrence and sketched and painted him.

Image


Image


Had he taken the Turkish side in 1916 and called a Jehad along with his King Hussein of Mecca , then all our Muslim Troops in the Middle East and India would have risen up against Imperial Rule, we may well have lost the Suez Canal and our route to India and the Oil fields of the Gulf.
This would have impacted on our supply of Oil for the War Industry not to mention its impact on the Royal Navy that had converted from Coal to Oil in 1908 we could well have lost the War.
At the Peace Talks Lawrence made Feisal recite the Koran out loud and Lawrence pretending to translate, would in English or French make his own demands on behalf of the Arabs.
He refused to wear his Medal Ribbons on his Uniform as you will see from the picture on the steps at Versailles with Feisal.
Image

They settled for putting Feisal on the Throne of Syria but it was not to last after 1920

Ibn Saud came out the eastern desert near the Gulf where he had been hiding quietly throughout the War,
he Ousted Feisals Father King Hussein out of Mecca and created his own very religious country.Saudi Arabia.

In April 1919 his Father died of the Deadly Spanish Flu raging the world.

In May 1919 Lawrence decided to Hitch a flight from Paris to Cairo so he could pick up papers he had left there, so he could write a book of his war memories.
The Handley Page crashed on landing at Rome Airport killing the Pilot and Co pilot.
Lawrence survived with a broken arm and spent a while there in Hospital before continuing.

He returned to Oxford took up a Fellowship at All Souls College, where he first met Robert Graves who was to become a great friend.
Lawrence commenced writing the draft of
"Seven Pillars of Wisdom" which he lost at Reading Railway Station while changing Trains, and had to start again in Nov.1919
In Dec 1919 he visited American journalist's Slide Show on him and Allenby on the Philharmonic Hall, London.

Image

Image

This Slide show travelled the world for years to sell out crowds. It opened the floodgates for the public's desire for news on him. He had proposals of marriage and men impersonate him.
The best selling romantic novel in 1919 1920 & 1921 "The Sheik" by Edith Maud Hull
Daughter of Liverpool Ship Owner James Henderson
along with Hollywood Silent Movie of her book in 1921with Rudolph Valentino
increased the fever of the public for any news on Lawrence.

https://goo.gl/images/fLjkQe

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" 1920/21 by me

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 3:03 pm
by ALAMO2008
Throughout 1920 Lawrence was in All Souls College writing his draft of Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

In May 1920 Prince Feisal was made King of The Arab Kingdom of Syria.

At the same time May 1920 Sunni and Shia and Kurds revolted in British Mandate Mesopotamia soon to be Iraq.

Britain had 25,000 British Troops and 80,000 Indian Troops trying to contain them.

The Army used Gas against them in an attempt to contain them.

In all 10 000 Iraqi's were killed

500 British and Indian Troops died.

It was costing between £40 million and £50 million, twice that of the cost that was invested in the 1917/8 Arab Revolt against the Ottomans.

Lawrence used his Fame and inside knowledge, to ask his Newspaper Owner Friends and Newspaper.Editor Friends, to publish his articles, exposing the Govt cost.

He proposed using the RAF as a more Effective and Cheaper option.

The Government relented and the RAF was given the Major role, over the Army
This increased its Rank as a Major Force .
They flew 4008 hrs of Missions. Dropped 97 Tons of Bombs, Fired 184,000 rounds of Bullets and lost only 9 RAF killed and 7 Wounded and 11 Aircraft lost.

RAF Air Marshall Sir Hugh Trenchard never forgot this Debt, that he owed his friend Lawrence.
The RAF reduced the cost to £21 million a year.4 years later.

Churchill issued a "Top Secret Order" for Chemical Weapons and Weapons of Mass Destruction to be used against the Insurgents but Bomber Harris declined.

In July 1920 the French Army invaded The Lebanon and Syria
and dethroned King Feisal, he returned to the UK in August 1920

Lawrence joined the Colonial Office on 3 Dec 1920 having been invited by Churchill to serve on a Committee to ensure Feisal; got a Country as King somewhere, and solve the insurgent unrest in British held Palestine,
Trans Jordan and Mesopotamia.



Image


Image

In March 1921 the 40 Thieves as they called themselves set out to a Peace Conference in Cairo to sort out the unrest in the Middle East.

Image


Image

Image

They ( Winston Churchill, T E Lawrence, Gertrude Bell, Sir Percy Cox) first offered Prince Abdullah of Trans Jordan the Throne of British Mandate Iraq but he refused but his Brother Feisal accepted.
But he was unknown there as their future King.
The Borders of this new Country were drawn on a Map with a Ruler hence it's straight border boundaries and no real port which would lead Saddam Hussein 80 years later attempt to correct by invading Kuwait.
To make it Legal and Official Britain held a Referendum to elect Prince Feisal but first Churchill arranged for Feisals opponent to be escorted by gun point for an extended holiday in Malta at the British Governments Expense.
Feisal was unanimously elected by More Voters than were Officially on the Voters List.
He took the Throne Of Iraq in August 1921 the band played the British National Anthem
"God Save Our Gracious King" and it remainded Iraq's National Anthem for 11 years till 1932

Image

Feisal went in 1933 to Switzerland for a Health Check with his Doctors who declared him physically fit but a few days later he died, supposedly of a Heart Attack but his Secretary stated he complained of Stomach Pains and there was a smell of Arsenic and that he was poisoned. His body was embalmed before an Autopsy could be done.
This Followed Gertrude Bells apparent Suicide in 1926 from an apparent Sleeping Pill Overdose.
And Lawrence's apparent Motorcycle crash to come in 1935
and Sir Percy Coxs sudden Death while out Hunting n 1937
Abdullah was Assassinated in 1951

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" 1922 by me

Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2018 5:12 pm
by ALAMO2008
His 1922 Subscribers Edition of Seven Pillars of Wisdom was published.
He tried to turn it into a work of art by having each Chapter start with a very ornate letter of the Alphabet.
Every Page ended in a sentence with a Full Stop.
He used the Latest Artists of the period for his illustrations.


Image


Image

Lawrence although viewed by many as an Englishman, was registered as born in Tremadog , Wales, grew up in Scotland, Isle of Man and France, but always considered himself Irish.
It appears he met with Michael Collins of The Irish Free State Army, again in July 1922
after resigning from his £1,200 p.a. post working in the Colonial Office with Churchill.
Lawrence suggested that Collins had offered him a position as Training Officer in his New Army because of Lawrence's knowledge in guerrilla warfare and sympathy for the Irish Cause.
Churchill thought that Lawrence's recent request to be allowed to join the RAF as an ordinary aircraftsman, rather than an Officer, was a complete waste of talent , and Churchill wanted to do everything in his power to stop it.

But he would have also considered that Lawrence's becoming an ordinary aircraftsman, was infinitely more preferable to the possible alternative and political nightmare of an English National War Hero, becoming embroiled in an Irish Civil War by joining Collins and his Army.


Image


Churchill therefore finally gave permission to Trenchard to let Lawrence join the Ranks of the RAF
Air Marshall Trenchard wrote an authorisation on 14th August 1922 that Lawrence be allowed to join at Henrietta St.Recruiting Office Covent garden on 21st August 1922 under the name John Hume Ross,
apparently Lawrence's brother Arnold, chose this name, it was that of a friend of their Mother's, and it was short.

Michael Collins was Assassinated on 22nd August 1922 by persons that today are still unknown.

Lawrence changed his enlist date to the 31st August 1922 last minute.

When he arrived at the Recruiting Office for a medical and form/application fill in, the person he was told to ask for who would fix things, wasn't there.
On the application he stated his Date of Birth as 15th August 1894 not 1888 and stated he was an Architects Clerk not that he was unemployed.
The Recruiting Officer was a Capt. W E Johns later of "Biggles" fame.
He and Sgt. Major Gee were suspicious of this recruit especially seeing the bullet wounds and flogging marks on his back from his War service and his torture during his capture at Deraa during the War.
The Doctor refused to pass him and Lawrence went away.
While he was away the Sgt. Major checked Birth records at Somerset House and found John Hume Ross did not exist.
When Lawrence returned they were ready for him !
But, Lawrence returned escorted by an Air Ministry Messenger with an Order from "The Top"
When Capt . W.E .Johns showed it to his Commanding Officer he was told:
"For Heaven's Sake, watch your step, this man is Lawrence of Arabia, Get him into the Force or you'll get your Bowler Hat !"
A Doctor was found who would pass him as fit.
The following day he arrived for training at RAF Uxbridge.

He kept notes to write a book about this training period later to be published called "The Mint"
Terence Rattigan wrote his play "Ross" also a out this period.

He excused himself of all photos of his unit.
But appears in this Company Photo looking out of the window from inside.

Image

Lawrence promised Trenchard " The Mint" would not be published till after his death,
so as not to affect recruitment into the RAF.


Image

They continued to be friends even after Trenchard had read it.
They continued to meet and correspond for years.
Lawrence commenting of several things from below in the ranks that Trenchard took on board to change and improve the RAF
On 27th Dec 1922 The Daily Mail broke a story : " Uncrowned King as A Private Soldier"
In January 1923 the Air Ministry from pressure, had to discharge him.

In February 1923 Lawrence wrote to his War time friend Sir Philip Chetwode Chief of Imperial General Staff a d asked for permission to join the Tank Corps instead.
On 12 March 1923 under a name he chose because it was short and at the rear of the alphabet and not because of his friendship with George Bernard Shaw.
He chose the name T.E.Shaw and was assigned to B Company Hut 12, of Tank Corp at Bovington Camp, Dorset

Image


Lawrence bought a small cottage "Clouds Hill " just up the road from the camp on the edge of the range.at Moreton
The Land Owners were Vansitartt /Chapmans and were his second cousins by marriage.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" 1925/ 1929 by me.

Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2018 6:25 pm
by ALAMO2008
Lawrence desperately wanted to get back into the RAF
He threatened suicide once while visiting the Trenchards at their home.
To which Trenchard replied " You'll have to go elsewhere, as my Wife wouldn't want blood on her new carpet"
Trenchard and George Bernard Shaw put pressure on the PM to allow his return into the RAF

He finally got his wish and was readmitted to his beloved RAF in August 1925

On 7 Dec 1926 to escape any potential publicity during pending books being published, he opted for an overseas posting to India. for 5 years.
Arriving at RAF Karachi on 7 Jan 1927
The Commanding Officer there was injured in WW1 and suffered violent rages and mood swings that made life hell there for every rank.
A Lawrence letter to Trenchard expedited a replacement and his early retirement on ill health grounds.

The new C.O. guessing what had happened, and knowing who Aircraftman Shaw really was, decided he didn't want the same fate, so he immediately transferred Lawrence to the remotest RAF base on the North West Frontier with Afghanistan, RAF Miranshah in May 1928

There he never left the base, listed to records when off duty, read books and translated Homers Odyssey from Ancient Greek.
A lovely quiet life , till an Afghan Civil War broke out just over the border.
Stalin and the Russian Paper Pravda claimed the Tribes were being led by Lawrence of Arabia.

The English Press got hold of this in December 1928 and English Communists burnt an Effigy of Lawrence on Tower Hill, London.
Labour M.P. Ernest Thurtle demanded in Parliament that the Government confirm that this is untrue and demands the RAF confirm, where he actually, is stationed.
Of Course, the answer, Well actually he's just up the road from all the trouble, quietly translating in his spare time was not believed.
He was ordered on the first flight out of Miranshah to Bombay on 8 Jan.1929
and put on the first ship out, back to the U.K. on 12 Jan 1929
The ship was due to dock at Tilbury, London but he decided to jump ship at Plymouth on 2 Feb 1929
Pathe News Reporters hired a boat and went out to the ship at anchor in the bay and took the last movie footage of him climbing down a rope ladder into a launch.


Image

He escaped the Press for the next 6 years.

His first priority at Plymouth was to catch a Train to London and meet M.P. Ernest Thurtle and get him to stop pursuing questions about him in Parliament.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" 1929/30 by me

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 5:00 pm
by ALAMO2008
Lawrence met Labour MP Ernest Thurtle at Parliament and convinced him he was not working as a spy but wanted a quiet life in the RAF
They became good friends, Lawrence lending him Seven Pillars, The Mint and The Odyssey.
From his new posting at RAF Cattewater Plymouth he helped out at Calshot for the International Schneider Air Speed Trials in Aug 1929 which The British Supermarine single seater RJ Mitchell Seaplane S6 Won setting a new Speed Record.
This was Mitchells forerunner of his Famous "Spitfire"


Image


Image


Lord Hoare the Minister for Air did not like this ordinary aircraftsman hob knobbing at the Event with High Ranking Personnel from all countries on first name terms .
He was determined to get Lawrence out of the RAF again.
But met his Death shortly after when he was blown up aboard the R101 Airship.

Lab MP Ernest Thurtle had been wounded in 1917 at The Battle of Cambrai and had seen over 300 men shot at dawn for Cowardice.
He was determined to get his bill through Parliament for the Abolishment of the Death Penalty for Cowardice. But it kept failing in the Lords where Ex Officers like Allenby now sat.
Their argument was that it would reduce the determination of the Soldiers to fight.

Lawrence now decided to add his weight to the fight and support Thurtle by enlisting the help of his personal friends. Here is a list of Lawrences Friends:
Sir Edward Elgar
Sir Philip Sassoon
Sir William Rothstein
Sir Ronald Storrs
Sir Herbert Baker
Sir Gilbert Clayton
Sir Geoffrey Salmond
Sir R Salmond
Lord Lloyd
Lord Carlow
Lord Wavell
Lady Astor
Lady Kennett
H St John Philby(Kim's Father)
Winston Churchill
John Buchan
George Bernard Shaw
Robert Graves
E M Forster
Siegfried Sassoon
JM Barrie
Rudyard Kipling
Henry Williamson
Noel Coward
Frederick Manning
B Liddell Hart
Augustus John
Eric Kennington
George Brough
Frank Whittle
Air Marshall Hugh Trenchard

Lawrence's Counter Argument was the fact that, the Australians had always made it clear when they joined the War effort, that none of their men were to be executed for these crimes.
No Australians were shot for Cowardice or Desertion and yet it was clear that their Troops had been as effective as any others in the War.

The Bill was Passed in 1930 and Military Death Penalty Abolished

Image


Image

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia"1930/31 by me

Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2019 1:45 pm
by ALAMO2008
Throughout these years T.E. buried himself in work and visiting friends.

He did allow his Fame to used by George Brough maker of his Motorcycle.
Of which he had Six from 1919 to 1935


Image

Image

American Publisher F N Doubleday gifted T.E. a motor launch which he called "Biscuit"
T.E. would take his Commanding Officer Wife for rides in it or his other Lady friend, Lady Astor of Cliveden.

In February 1931during one such outing on the Solent they witnessed a RAF Iris 111 Seaplane crash into the water. While the rescuers rowed out to help.T.E. in his motorlaunch was first on the scene and dived down to pull some survivors from the wreck.

At the Inquest it transpired that a superior officer in rank unable to fly ordered the pilot to give him control.
When T.E.was asked if he would flown with that Officer.His reply was : "Only if ordered to so, Sir"

With Lady Astor help they put pressure on the Air Ministry to make it International Air Law that the Pilot designated was in charge of the plane, regardless of Rank or Royalty on board.

They also put pressure on the RAF to develop Speed Boats to help save Pilots who ditched in the sea.

T.E. played a big part in their development and trials.

In 1932 he wrote The Manual/Handbook for the RAF 200 Power Boat Tender




Image






He became friends with Colleague Frank Whittle who later invented the Jet Engine.



Image

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" 1932/33 by me

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 6:43 pm
by ALAMO2008
Frank Whittle once asked T.E. for his autograph for his niece.
T.E. asked "What name shall I put ?"
Whittle knowing that T E Shaw was not his real name stated "Why your real name Lawrence of course !"
T.E signed it : T.E.Shaw, John Hume Ross, T.E. Lawrence
Handed it to him and said "None of them are my real name !"
By that , he meant, he was really T.E.Chapman

He wrote to George Hynes in 1932 in Liverpool his ex WW1 RAF friend in Arabia, concerning his new born son.
They were still in contact after 14 years.
Bobhamo reminded me in an earlier post that I had a book about Lawrences Secret AirForce by Hynes and implied Hynes was from Bootle.
I have found he later lived by Walton Hall Park off Queens Drive.


Image


Another amusing Story in this period was related by a Sergeant on Parade on Rembrance Day not knowing who Aircraftman T E Shaw really was, Balled him out in front of the Squad for not wearing his Medals on Parade.
Made him go and get them and return.
Expecting Shaw to return wearing Two possibly Three
He returned wearing a Chest Full.



[url=https://postimages.org/]Image





Image





Image



Companionship of the Order of Bath(Military)
Distinguished Service Order
1914~1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal 1918 with Oak Leaf
Legion of Honour (Chevalier)
Crioix de Guerre with Palm
Italian Silver Medal for Military Valour


Next four are Spurious Awards=

Order of Merit (reverse of Civil Version)
Hejaz Order of al Nahda
Turkish Order of the Medjidie
Iraq Order of the Two Rivers (Military Version)


Lawrence was recommended for the Victoria Cross by General Murray for his 300 mile reconnaissance behind Enemy Lines to Damascus while on route to capture Aqaba in 1917 but as no Officer witnessed it that could not be awarded.


At Tafilah in March 1918 Lawrence and his Arabs raided and scuttled Turkish Boats on the Dead Sea.
Lawrence thought to recommend Himself for the Naval DSO since it was the First time the Cavalry had Won a Naval Battle.

In July 1918 he thought to recommend Himself for the Distinguished Flying Cross
( "for having the presence of mind in not shooting down two Bristol Fighters")
whilst on a Reconnaissance ride and having made the Regulation "Friendly" signal his party was attacked by a couple of British Planes, but he refrained from retaliation with their own automatic rifles.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" 1934 by me

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 5:46 pm
by ALAMO2008
Throughout this year T..E. continued working on Target Boats, Speed Boats and the very first proto type of the Hovercraft.

Image


Arthur Hall and T E Shaw


Image


For some unknown reason, the RAF hierarchy allowed T.E. to wear Civilian Clothes while on duty rather than his RAF Uniform.

As seen here aboard HM Aquarius during trials on the River Mersey when he was based at Northwich.
He sailed Aquarius back from Liverpool to Plymouth.


T.E. continued to bombard his Friends in the RAF Hierarchy with continual Suggestions as to Reforms in the RAF
He personally told Trenchard that he couldn't see why any RAF personnel would ever need a Bayonet and the man hours Polishing it a waste of RAF time., He got MP Friend Ernest Thurtle to ask about the RAF Bayonet ib Parliament, his reply was that it had now been discontinued.

He sent some 58 suggestions to make life in the RAF easier =



Image


Image


Image


Image


Image




Image



Image

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" 1934 Continued by me

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:45 am
by ALAMO2008
23 February 1934 Composer Sir Edward Elgar writes his last letter and posts it at his home in Worcestershire before going to bed and dying in his sleep.
This letter was to his Friend : T.E.Shaw (Lawrence)
T.E.. had visited Elgar at his Worcestershire Home on several occasions with George Bernard Shaw and gone to Plays at Malvern of G.B.Shaw.
On one occasion in Elgars garden, they listened to a young 16 year old Violinist Prodigy named Yehudi Menuhin
He went onto to record in 1932 aged 16 Elgars Violin Concerto in B minor for HMV

Later in 1934 T.E. was posted to RAF Bridlington for his final few months of service in the RAF
before retiring.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" 1935 by me

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 12:55 pm
by ALAMO2008
Lawrence travels in January 1935 to the home of Artist/Painter Augustus John at Fordingbridge Hampshire and sits for sketches for his forthcoming book "The Mint" which was being printed privately.




Lawrence finally retired from his beloved RAF on 26 February 1935 after spending his final months based
at RAF Bridlington




Image






Image










He had a Final photo taken on his Push Bike on his last day 26 Feb at Bridlington leaning against a wall.


Image





Image



He then cycled in the direction of home in Dorset calling at several friends on route, including his younger Brother Arnold who was Professor of History at Cambridge University.
John Buchan author at Elfield Manor, Oxford



Image



When he arrives home at "Clouds Hill" Dorset, he finds Newspaper journalists and photographers camped outside his home waiting for him.

He cycles on 19 March to London to meet with the Press Association to ask them to leave him alone.

He continues onto Chartwell, Kent and stays with Winston Churchill and his Wife on 24 March , for two days discussing Air fields and Air Defences should Hitler attack Gt.Britain

Early April he visits and stays with Lord and Lady Astor at Cliveden. she tries to talk him into taking a High Ranking Govt job.

He states his plan to write a book about the Life and Spying Trial of Irishman "Sir Roger Casement"

In early May his friend Lord Carlow comes to stay with him at "Clouds Hill"

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me 1934/5

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:23 am
by ALAMO2008
As seen above Lawrence in plain clothes was at Nantwich Cheshire in 1934 for Sea Trails on the Mersey of
296 ton Royal Air Force Auxiliary Ship "Aquarius"
Launched 14 February 1934
Then Eight years later to the day 14 February 1942 while visiting Singapore she is Sunk by a Japanese Submarine off the Tjiben Islands South East of Sumatra. At a loss of 60 lives.



Image

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" 1935 by me

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:57 am
by ALAMO2008
To expand on the intended biography mentioned above that Lawrence proposed to write in his Retirement
about Sir Roger Casement and name it "Confession of Faith"
Casement born 1864 in Dublin had a distinguished career in the British Consular Service, working in British West Africa, then
The Congo, working under Henry Morton Stanley, then posted to Brazil and Peru.
Retired in 1913 and joined the fight for Irish Freedom
In 1916 before the Easter Up Rising, he had the idea of going to Germany to recruit Irish Soldiers in P.O.W. camps to form an Irish Brigade in time to be released and taken back to Ireland in time for Easter Up Rising.
The British decoded signals and knew he was landing April 1916 in a German Submarine off Cork with Men and Rifles.
He was captured and tried for High Treason.
George Bernard Shaw wrote a defence for him but he was not allowed by his advisors to read it out till after the sentence.
His personal diaries had been seized and translated from Putuamayo which confirmed Homosexual Activities, this inflamed opinion against him.
Frederick Edwin Smith 1st Earl of Birkenhead was damnable and insolent throughout the whole trial and passed the Death Sentence.
Then Casement got up and made his speech which GBS has sketched for him.
It made a profound sensation and several jurymen said afterwards that had they heard all that before retiring the verdict would have been different.
There is great controversy about the authenticity of the Diaries. Many claiming they were forged.
They are held by the Public Records Office and to this day can only viewed on Authority of The Home Secretary.

He was Hung at HM Pentonville on 3/08/1916 and buried in Lime.

His Knighthood revoked.

In 1965 his Remains were finally Repatriated to Dublin.

He lay in State for 5 days near his fellow Easter Uprising Martyrs

Then given a State Funeral and buried with Full Military Honours at Glasnevin Cemetery Dublin.
attended by 30,000 people.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2019 9:35 pm
by WatsonTommy
he liked fast vehicles and implemented in the fast motor boats picking up shot down pilot in the English channel in during the (battle of Britain allegedly killed on a motor bike by you know who

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2019 9:48 am
by ALAMO2008
After the 1931 Seaplane disaster above, Lawrence and Lady Astor put pressure on the Air Ministry to set up an "Air Sea Rescue Service" which as stated saved lots of WW2 pilots downed in the Channel.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me Final days

Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 8:29 am
by ALAMO2008
His Cottage became besieged by Newspaper Reporters and Freelance Photographers,
On one occasion throwing Stones on his Roof, to wake him up.
Of the two Reporters he agreed to invite only one in, alone, the man exited with a Blackened Eye claiming he was suing for Damages.
T.E. decided to go to stay up in London and see Esmond Harmsworth
New Chairman of the Newspaper Proprietors Association,
T.E. first contacted Winston Churchill asking him too pull some necessary strings, for access to see Harmsworth, he received a telegram reply from Churchill stating it was arranged.
While in London T.E. visited his Friend and Sculptor, Lady Kennet, (Widow of Scott of the Antarctic)
also his friends Author = E.M.Forster (A Passage to India)
and Biographer = Capt B.Liddell Hart

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._H._Liddell_Hart


T.E. then went down to Chartwell to stay with the Churchills on 24 March 1935

It is said T.E. and Winston worked on Defence Plans for the Restructuring of Airfields and Air Defence
in what they both felt was an impeding /forthcoming War with Hitler.
They tried to get the Govt to fund and order more Spitfires for the RAF, in the end the RAF ordered 230 ready for War by 1945 23,000 were finally .
On 3 April 1935 he Registers his Brough SS100 Motorbike Reg.No.GW2275 known as George V11(7) to escape pressmen still.

Lady Astor on 5 May 1935 writes to T.E. from her home "Cliveden" later of Profumo Scandal and more recently Megan Markle stayed there the night before her Wedding to Prince Henry (Harry)
Invited T.E. to her other Home :
"The Room is ready at Plymouth on Saturday 25 May I believe when the Government reorganises, you will be asked to help reorganize the Defence Forces.
Please come Lionel Curtis , Lord Lothian and Stanley Baldwin wil be there. Please think about this!"

Col.Richard Meinertzhagen from Gen.Allenby staff wrote in his " Middle East Diary" that in May 1935 Lawrence was Chairing a Review Panel considering the Restructuring of Britain's Entire Secret Security Services.
" We worked together on a scheme for Directorship of Intelligence

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" Final Day by me

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 10:12 am
by ALAMO2008
13th May 1935 having had a request from Author and Friend Henry Williamson to visit T.E. at Clouds Hill and discuss the Manuscript of V.M.Yeats book "Winged Victory"
T.E. rode his Motorbike GW2275 down into Bovington Camp Village Post Office to send a Telegram to Williamson telling him to call
"Whether it was Sunny or Wet"
he also sent a Parcel to his Ex RAF Pal Jock Chambers
and it has been suggested he sent a Telegram to Selim Shaalan envoy to King Abdullah,
but this was never found or proved.
Upon his return journey home to his cottage, he swerved on his Motorbike to avoid it is said two boy cyclists and crashed hitting his bare head on the Tarmac road surface.
He was not speeding at the time, his damaged bike was found stuck in 2nd gear that had a top speed of 30 mph.
He was only yards from his cottage and would have been braking and changing down the gears.
One local builder hearing the noise was first on the scene along with his apprentice, who kept his name secret for nearly 50 years, he was named Lyall Chapman.
A Corporal Ernest Catchpole of the Tank Corp was crossing the Range and quickly attended the crash scene.
T.E.was loaded into a Military Ambulance and taken to Bovington Tank Military Hospital even though he was now a Civilian.
The Camp was put on Curfew and all personnel were reminded of the Official Secrets Act that they had signed per their Employment.
All information about T.E. and the local accident were only released via Military Statements.
King George V on hearing the news of T.E. sent 3 of his personal Doctors/Physicians to tend T.E.
T.E.lay in a Coma from his Head injuries as no Crash Helmet was worn.
Get Bernard Shaw and his Wife were touring America.
T.E.s Mother and elder Brother Bob were Missionaries in China where they had been since the Death of his Father in 1919
His younger Brother Arnold was on Holiday in Majorca and flew home.
Winston and all other friends were advised.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 10:49 am
by efc46
Hi I knew a fella when I was in New Zealand Ted Lawrence from Southampton( A Character ) won a few bob on the pools one thing he did was find out Lawrence of Arabia was his uncle ted spent most of his winnings without telling his wife so ted set of for Arabia to seek his fortune done Know good even sold his shoes went to the British Embassy in Arabia they flew him home with no shoes in december he got off the plane pennyless an no shoes true

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 3:47 pm
by ALAMO2008
Great story but his claim to be related to Lawrence is unlikely to be true unless his name was Chapman not Lawrence
As his Parents basically made up the Surname Lawrence when they eloped.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" Part 2 by me

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 3:49 pm
by ALAMO2008
Sadly, after 6 days in a Coma, and all the attention of all King George V's Top Physicians,
T.E. died on 19th May 1935

Had he survived, it is said, he would have been paralysed all his life and unable to speak.

That would have been horrendous for such an intelligent man.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 6:04 am
by efc46
thanks for the information about lawrence of arabia I guess ted Lawrence must been a fibber never mind we had a few good laughs ted was a least ten older than me that was 50 + years ago \Davey

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 3:05 pm
by ALAMO2008
Image

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" Final days Part 3 by me

Posted: Tue May 21, 2019 6:12 pm
by ALAMO2008
A Rather rushed Civilian Inquest was arranged 2 days after his Death - for Tuesday morning 21 May 1935

Image

The Inquest was held in the Dining Room of Bovington Tank Camp Military Hospital

In an unprecedented opening speech, the East Dorset Coroner R. Neville Jones prejudiced the court jury by telling them that he had already made up his mind as to the verdict of the Inquiry.

The local Jury heard from the two Boy cyclists and those others first on the scene, including a Corporal Ernest Catchpole of the Tank Corps who was crossing the Tank Range on foot and claimed to have seen a Black Car pass T.E. and then heard a screech on brakes.
No one else claimed to have seen the Black Car and the Coroner recorded that he was not happy that the Black Car could not be accounted for.

Image

George Brough the Motorbike Manufacturer had the damaged George V11 bike GW2275 in his works for repair after the accident and claimed that he saw Black Paint on the damaged bike,that could not be accounted for, and he maintained that fact all his life till his dying day.

Corporal Catchpole who always maintained he saw a Black Car,
Was found years later, in his Army Barracks in Cairo, Egypt,
where it is claimed he committed suicide by blowing his brains out with a shotgun.

A Lawrence Biographer Desmond Stewart who years later put forward a Theory that Lawrence was Murdered, also died in Cairo in his Hotel having been poisoned by persons unknown.

There is a Fiction Novel " The Murder of Lawrence of Arabia" by Matthew Eden

Image


In case there are any Assassins out there,

I am not suggesting that, but merely presenting some facts for you to make your own conclusions.


You do not know where I live.


" You know Nothing !"

The Coroner gave his predicted Verdict of "Accidental Death"

and the Body was taken to Moreton Village St.Nicholas Church
for the Funeral that afternoon at 14:30.

A Special Train was laid on from Waterloo London at 9:30 a.m.to Moreton at 13:58. for all the celebrities including Winston Churchill and his Wife Clem.
It is said he cried during the Service.


Image

Image

Gen. Wavell flew in by autogiro from Aldershot.

Canon M.W. Kinloch led the Service at St. Nicholas Church with Psalm 121

The Coffin buried in the new Graveyard 400 yards from the Church which suffered Blitz damage 6 years later.


Image


Image

Tea and Sandwiches were put on up at the local Moreton Mansion by the local Squire :
Henry Rupert Etherstonhaugh Frampton,
who were related to the Chapman`s of Lawrence`s Family by Marriage.

Photographers and Pressmen were selling Souvenirs and Photos later that day relating to Lawrence in Dorchester just after the Funeral and bits and souvenirs from the Annex Graveyard went missing only Hours later for sal

Lawrence's younger Brother Arnold arranged for T.E.'s brain to be preserved in a Jar for research and it was kept at the John Ratcliffe Hospital in Oxford till the 1970's when it was destroyed in a Fire there.

But he placed in His Brother`s Coffin a Piece of Grass from Arabia,
that his War friend George Hynes ex Flying Corp Colleague in Arabia but from Bootle,
had kept in his Lounge in Bootle from 1919 to 1935
when he moved to Walton Park Area off Queens Drive.

Image


Letter from Lawrence's Brother Arnold confirming that the Grass from Hynes Bootle Lounge home,
now placed in Lawrence`s Coffin.

Image


Image



Two weeks after Lawrence's Burial Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald Resigned as PM on 7/6/35

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me 1935

Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2019 4:15 pm
by ALAMO2008
After Lawrence's Death the local Butcher at Bovington Camp staed he spoke to Lawrence the morning of the crash and that Lawrence stated he intended to travel up to Catterick Garrison Camp that afternoon( for reasons unknown) which is rather strange since he had just sent a Telegram to Henry Williamson to make arrangements to meet him at Clouds Hill the following day Tuesday in less than 24 hours time?
It is claimed by Williamson that he had spoken previously to Lawrence about the possiblity of him meeting with Hitler to avoid War with Germany.
But Williamson did not really join Mosley`s Fascist Party till after Lawrence's Death..
It has been suggested that Hitler would not have wanted to come up against Lawrence leading an Army if he had any Invasion plans.
It has been suggested the British Government would not have wanted such a meeting with Hitler to tale place or be known about.
Jews were leaving Germany and flooding into Palestine and Trans Jordan and it has been suggested King Abdullah sent his Envoy to discuss the possibility of him leading the Arabs to retain their land against the Jews.
I has been suggested that the Jewish Secret Service members would not have wanted that meeting to take place with Salim Shalaan. and could have taken out both parties.
It has been suggested Salim Shalaan was knocked down and killed by a Hit and Run driver while crossing the road in London on 31st May 1935 12 days after Lawrence`s Death, but I have been unable to confirm whether this is fact or fiction.
As we know Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald resigned 8 days later on 7 June 1935
A few months later in 1936 an Arab rebellion took place in Palestine which lasted till August 1939
Casualties estimated at 5,600 killed and wounded , Moslem Christian Arabs, Jews and British Troops and Police.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me 1935/6

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 4:20 pm
by ALAMO2008
Although Lawrence had been brought up very Religious by his Parents and he ran Sunday School Bible Reading Classes in Oxford.
He became very disillusioned with it after finding out that his Parents weren't Married
and certainly after WW1 he had basically turned his back on Religion.

And although he had changed his name legally by Deed Poll to T.E.Shaw in August 1927

His Mother refused to accept this and had an Academic Religious Headstone made for his Grave
in the Churchyard Annex in Moreton.

Image



He was buried next to his Clouds Hill Neighbours Arthur and,Henrietta Knowles.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me 1935/6

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 4:32 pm
by ALAMO2008
[quote="ALAMO2008"]Although Lawrence had been brought up very Religious by his Parents and he ran Sunday School Bible Reading Classes in Oxford.
He became very disillusioned with it after finding out that his Parents weren't Married
and certainly after WW1 he had basically turned his back on Religion.

And although he had changed his name legally by Deed Poll to T.E.Shaw in August 1927

His Mother refused to accept this and had an Academic Religious Headstone made for his Grave
in the Churchyard Annex in Moreton

He was buried next to his Clouds Hill Neighbours Arthur and Henrietta Knowles






Image

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me 1935

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 7:58 pm
by ALAMO2008
Lawrence's Friend Artist and Sculptor Eric Kennington started Sculpting a Medieval Effigy of Lawrence lying in Arab Clothes in a fashion similar to those Medieval Knights reclining with their Sword that Lawrence had researched as a kid in many a Church while doing his Brass Rubbings.

Image


Image


Image


The Effigy in Portland Stone was intended for Salisbury Cathedral but it was later declined..


It was a local. Church in Wareham , St.Martins Old Saxon Church that accepted it and became the Final resting place for the Effigy and it was where Lawrence spent many a time there supporting the old Church.


Image

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me 1935/6

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 5:59 pm
by ALAMO2008
Sculptor friend Eric Kennington made a Bust of Lawrence for the Crypt at St .Pauls Cathedral.
The unveiling of it by Viscount Halifax took place on 29 January 1936 when a Memorial Service was held for Lawrence the day after the State Funeral of King George V

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Winston Churchill said of Lawrence :
"I Deem him one of the greatest beings alive in our time. I Fear whatever our need,
We shall never see his like again."


King George V wrote to Lawrence's Brother Arnold ,
"His name will live in History, that is true. It will live in English Letters, it will live in the annals of War.
It will live in the Traditions of the Royal Air Force and in the Legends of Arabia"


Author of The 39 Steps and Governor General of Canada said :
"I am not a very tractable person or much of a hero worshiper built I could have followed Lawrence to the edge of the world. He was the only man of genius I have ever known !"

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 1:48 pm
by ALAMO2008
One bit I missed out in Lawrence's War Career was in 1916 he left Military Intelligence in Cairo to Accompany Aubrey Herbert to Kut el Amara 160 km East of Baghdad in Iraq where General Townsend had got himself surrounded and Besieged in the Town with 13,000 British and Indian Troops in late 1915. After several attempts to relieve them at a cost of 30,000 British lives and the First Air Supply Drop in History , Lawrence from his knowledge knew the Ottoman/Turkish Commander Enver Pasha was possibly open to a bribe to release the British Troops so he travelled with Gold Coins to meet under a Flag of Truce and offer up to £2 million which is equivalent to £150million in gold at 2016 value.
This sadly was rejected and Gen.Townsend had no choice but to surrender the Garrison on 29 April 1916
Making it the worst Defeat in British Military History even after the Gallipoli retreat 3 months earlier
on 9 January 1916
While the General sat out the rest of the War in Luxury as a POW
70% of the British Troops and 30% of the Indian Troops all Died of Disease and Starvation,
during their forced march to a POW camp in Aleppo nearly 1,000 miles away.
A few Officers and men did escape near the Black Sea and crossed into Russia our Ally.




https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Kut

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 5:40 pm
by ALAMO2008
May 2020 the 85th Anniversary of Lawrence's Death a new Movie is to be released.

"LAWRENCE AFTER ARABIA"



https://www.lawrencethemovie.com/

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2020 11:18 am
by ALAMO2008
Movie above postponed till 2021 possibly.

But there is a Documentary for 2 hrs 5 mins on Channel 5 next Wed 30th September at 21:00 hrs

Thought I would give the Heads Up to anyone interested.


Image


Looks Good.

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:06 am
by ALAMO2008
Don't forget tonight Ch 5 at 21:00hrs above Documentary. 125 mins

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 2:57 pm
by BOBHAMO
Will save Alan. Looks good :) :arrow: :arrow:
Bobhamo

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 10:55 am
by Bonesy
Hi Alan,
I have a friend Phil Davies in Maghull, who is a brilliant artist.
He has posted this, this morning. Fantastic detail i think you will agree.

Image


Keith

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 1:28 pm
by Silver-Haired-Hippy
Brilliant likeness Keith, great artist!

Loretta

Re: "Lawrence / Chapman Of Arabia" by me

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 9:53 pm
by ALAMO2008
Agreed !


Likeness to Peter O'Toole


If he could do one from Augusus John Portrait 1919


Image


Or James Mc Bey 1918

Image


Better if it was a variation of these.