T. E. Lawrence

Contents lists

1888-1910

1911

1912

1913

1914

1915-16

1917-18

1919-20

1921

1922

1923

1924

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

Updated June 2012

T. E. Lawrence to Clare Sydney Smith

---

13, Birmingham Street,
Southampton.

26.IX.33.

Indeed indeed I should have written earlier, if unable to call: and I am utterly unable to call. My last visit to London was on business and it lasted just four hours. Not even a night in a friendly place. But then, my pocket is empty - and London is no use for careful non-spenders.

The evacuation of Manston must have been hard work: and in a few months will come the evacuation of England. Things, things, things - what fools we are to let them hang on to our affections. I lost a lot of books lately - and felt sorry instead of glad. Measure by that how short of Gandhi I fall in wisdom.

Please remember me to Sydney. I hope he is leaving England in good trim and according to schedule and inventory. The work at Singapore should be wide enough to occupy him wholly. Find an interest for yourself, do. I do not think you can fence out there: and there will be no boats. However, life is wide.

Mr. Breakey is at Calshot, doing the course. I saw him for five minutes. He expects Mrs. Breakey, and then I am to tea with them. Singapore has not made him old or dry or nervous, overmuch. I do hope you come back thence well, both of you.

A new control job hobbles me to the Power Yard. If it ever finishes, I will be able to get a night in London. Warning later!

T.E.S.

The rug decorates my cottage. I am very glad of the inspiration that made us snaffle it suddenly. They are good rugs.

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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