Biography
Who was 'Lawrence of Arabia'
Introductory biography
T. E. Lawrence as writer
Chronology of Lawrence's life
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Reference
Maps
Memorials to Lawrence
Some quotations
T. E. Lawrence manuscripts
Books dedicated to Lawrence
Research and discussion
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state of T.E. Lawrence scholarship
Rejected legend
David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia
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Jeremy Wilson
Page updated June 2012
Royal Air Force
file AIR 1/2703
Aircraftman Shaw,
invitation to lunch with
Under-Secretary of State
National Archives (formerly the Public Record Office), London
| Correspondence with Sir Philip Sassoon, Under Secretary of State for Air | |
| 1934 Nov 15 T.E. Lawrence to Sir Philip Sassoon [He had known Sassoon for some years] | Comments on his posting to Bridlington, likely to last until his discharge: "If ever you feel that you want a nice place for a winter - give Bridlington a miss. Without work it would be impossible.' |
| 1934 Nov 19 H. Russell (secretary of Sir Philip Sassoon) to T. E. Lawrence. | Sir Philip is ill with flu, but would like Lawrence to lunch with him on 27 November at his house in Park Lane. Offers to post Lawrence away from Bridlington during the winter. Failing 27 November, would Lawrence suggest a date? |
| 1934 Nov 20 T.E. Lawrence to Sir Philip Sassoon | Responds to the letter above, declining the invitation to lunch: "I mustn't leave here as early as November 27, even to lunch in Park Lane". Explains that his previous letter was not intended as a complaint about his posting to Bridlington: "My 'complaint' is against the foulness of the North Sea in winter, and the excessively northward positioning of the British Isles. I should like to swap them for the Azores." |
| 1935 Dec 7 T.E. Lawrence to Sir Philip Sassoon | Explains that he is unlikely to pass through London until the Saturday before Christmas. However, it is possible that he may go to London to meet Alexander Korda, who is proposing a film: "I have strong views as to the undesirability of any such film. So I have sent him word that perhaps he ought to discuss his intentions with me before he opens his silly mouth again." |
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