Biography
Who was 'Lawrence of Arabia'
Introductory biography
T. E. Lawrence as writer
Chronology of Lawrence's life
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David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia
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Jeremy Wilson
Page updated June 2012
Royal Air Force
file AIR 1/2698
338171 Shaw,
Thomas Edward
File opened 18 August 1925
National Archives (formerly the Public Record Office), London
Note: In addition to the content specifically noted below, this file also contains documents and Minute sheets relating to:
- Forwarding various letters addressed to Lawrence.
- The transfer of Lawrence's service papers between stations.
- Other minor administrative matters including official queries about details of Lawrence's RAF service.
| 1927: Address enquiry from John Bruce | |
| 1927
March 15 Letter from John Bruce to OC RAF Cadet College Cranwell and reply, dated 29 March 1927. |
Bruce
requests Lawrence's new address 'as it is important I should know, being
an old friend'. The reply, from RAF Records, gives Lawrence's address in Karachi |
| 1928: Extension of period of enlistment to 12 years | |
| 1928
December 19 RAF Form 1364 and related documents |
Approval for Lawrence to extend his service to 12 years, calculated from 12 March 1923. |
| 1933: Discharge application and transfer | |
| 1933
April Documents relating to Lawrence's application for discharge from the RAF and subsequent posting to M.A.E.E. Felixstowe. See also Minute sheets, items 4-7 |
Lawrence's
application for discharge was dated 6.3.1933. No objection was raised on the grounds of manning levels, because of a surplus at that time. Lawrence reported to MAEE Felixstowe in the afternoon of 28.4.1933 |
| Forms relating to pay, taxation and pension entitlement | |
| 1931
March Income Tax assessors Query and reply concerning Lawrence's RAF earnings from 1.4.1927 to 31.3.1931 |
Pay
1.4.27 to 30.9.27 was 3/3d per day Pay 1.10.27 to 30.9.30 was 3/7d per day Pay 1.10.30 to 11.3.31 was 3/11d per day Pay 12.3.31 to 31.3.21 was 4/2d per day |
| 1933
November Income Tax assessors Query and reply concerning Lawrence's RAF earnings from 1.4.1931 to date (replied 11.11.1933) - various related documents. |
Pay
1.4.31 to 30.9.31 was 4/2d per day Pay 1.10.31 to 11.11.33 was 3/10d per day. [Note: service pay was reduced as a result of the economic crisis in Britain in 1931] |
| 1936
November 26 Income Tax Assessors Query and reply concerning Lawrence's RAF movements and earnings from 1.4.1933 until his discharge or death. |
Movements: 1.4.33 to 23.4.33 S.H.Q. Mount Batten 24.4.33 to 11.3.35 M.A.E.E. [Felixstowe] Pay 1.3.33 to 30.6.34 3/10d per
day |
| 1935
11 March Query from Air Ministry relating to Lawrence's address after discharge, because there is a balance of £32.17.5 owed to him. Reply gives Lawrence's address on leaving.
|
The forwarding address Lawrence gave on 1.3.1935 was 35 Acacia Avenue, Tarporley, Cheshire. An instruction received on 8.3.35 added that if letters were returned from that address marked 'Gone away', they should be forwarded to Sgt. A. Robinson at MAEE Felixstowe. |
| 1935 March 13 Form setting out Lawrence's pension entitlement. |
Relates only to12 years' service in the ranks from 12.3.23 to 11.3.35. |
| 1934: Form relating to future civilian employment after discharge | |
| 1934
December 6 Ministry of Labour: Registration of ex-regular airmen of the Royal Air Force for civil employment. |
4-page form giving basic details of Lawrence's RAF service and qualifications. |
| Another
copy See also Minute sheet items 10-13. |
Marked:
"Not to be forwarded to Ministry of Labour" 21.12.34. The form was not sent because Lawrence had given no address for his location after leaving the RAF.. |
T. E. Lawrence chronology
1888 16 August: born at Tremadoc, Wales
1896-1907: City of Oxford High School for Boys
1907-9: Jesus College, Oxford, B.A., 1st Class Hons, 1909
1910-14: Magdalen College, Oxford (Senior Demy), while working at the British Museum's excavations at Carchemish
1915-16: Military Intelligence Dept, Cairo
1916-18: Liaison Officer with the Arab Revolt
1919: Attended the Paris Peace Conference
1919-22: wrote Seven Pillars of Wisdom
1921-2: Adviser on Arab Affairs to Winston Churchill at the Colonial Office
1922 August: Enlisted in the Ranks of the RAF
1923 January: discharged from the RAF
1923 March: enlisted in the Tank Corps
1923: translated a French novel, The Forest Giant
1924-6: prepared the subscribers' abridgement of Seven Pillars of Wisdom
1927-8: stationed at Karachi, then Miranshah
1927 March: Revolt in the Desert, an abridgement of Seven Pillars, published
1928: completed The Mint, began translating Homer's Odyssey
1929-33: stationed at Plymouth
1931: started working on RAF boats
1932: his translation of the Odyssey published
1933-5: attached to MAEE, Felixstowe
1935 February: retired from the RAF
1935 19 May: died from injuries received in a motor-cycle crash on 13 May
1935 21 May: buried at Moreton, Dorset