Thomas Edward Lawrence

This website is dedicated to the life, legend and times of one of our Greatest British heroes;-

Also known as: - 352087 A/c2 John Hume Ross (RAF) or 7875698 Trooper T.E. Shaw (Tank Corps) and 338171 A/c Shaw (RAF again!)

Also Known As (aka) Lawrence of Arabia, 20th Century Crusader, The Un-crowned King of Arabia, Honorary Prince of Mecca, "L'Aurens" – King of the Desert or simply Ned

An archaeologist, intelligence officer, warrior, crusader, statesman, writer, poet, aircraftsman – A LEGEND!!

Born in a house called Gorphwyspha, Gwynedd, North Wales – not England, son of Sir Thomas Robert Tighe Chapman.

Believed to have invented Guerrilla Warfare, a tactic studied and used later by Mao Tse Tung. If TEL had lived longer he no doubt would have been credited for creating the British Special Air Service (SAS); Lieutenant David Sterling in fact created this in 1941.

This page was prepared (in 1998) to supply various friends and colleagues of mine with photographs I have taken. In particular, it is for the benefit of members of the T.E.Lawrence Society.

The pictures are of various sites and memorials commemorating our all time national hero T.E.Lawrence (of Arabia) down in the Dorset area in the south of England, UK.

The T.E.Lawrence pictures. Please click (you may need to double click) on any 'thumbnail' picture below for a larger version to be downloaded (about 50kb in size - JPEG images). If you have ANY comments about the page or the way that I've presented the pictures please let me know by email.

The title "The Un-crowned King of Arabia" was attributed to Lawrence by Sir Ronald Storrs and the honorary title of Prince of Mecca was bestowed upon him by his closest friend of the times Prince Feisal later to become King Feisal 1of Mesopotamia (now Iraq) - (a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad). Lowell Thomas labelled him the "White King of the Arabs". After Lawrence's death, the Turkish newspapers broadcast the death of the "King of the Desert".

Wrote several books including Seven Pillars of Wisdom, Revolt in the Desert and The Mint. He also wrote a prose translation of The Odyssey.

Medals & Decorations (awarded to but not necessarily accepted by Lawrence)
CB	VC	Order of the Nile	DSO

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath Companion of the Bath Motto "Tria juncta in uno" Three Joined in One	Victoria Cross Recommended for the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery	Order of the Nile Egypt (Medal)	The Distinguished Service Order Bestowed in recognition of especial services in action of commissioned officers in Armed Forces

"I deem him one of the greatest beings alive in our time. I do not see his like elsewhere. I fear whatever our need we shall never see his like again. King George V wrote to his brother, "His name will live in history". That is true. It will live in English letters; It will live in the annuls of war; it will live in the traditions of the Royal Air Force' and in the legends of Arabia" - quoted by another of the greatest beings alive in our time Sir Winston Spencer Churchill.