The story of a successful town and gown project
From an article in The Times for 2 Dec 1971
DR ROBERT LAWRENCE Missionary in China
W.G.B. writes:
Courage and abiding love of service to God and country and his family, dominated Robert Lawrence, who died recently at Swanage.
Continue reading “Robert Lawrence (1896-1904)”In this made-for-television sequel to the film LAWRENCE OF ARABIA by David Lean, the legendary British officer T.E. Lawrence travels to the Paris Peace Conference with his comrade Emir Feisal, the King of Syria, to attempt to win independence for the Arabs.
Upon arrival, however, he finds backroom politics have become more treacherous than desert warfare due to the recent discovery of the Middle East’s vast oil reserves.
Ralph Fiennes plays Lawrence.
Cast & Crew:
Ralph Fiennes, Siddig El Fadil, Denis Quilley, Nicholas Jones, Roger Hammond directed by Christopher Menaul
A note by Tony Phelps:
The Lawrence Brothers’ Memorial Fund financed the establishment at Jesus College Oxford of a Scholarship or Exhibition, which was first competed for in 1939. It was created in memory of three of the Lawrence brothers. Namely:
In the Oxford Mail of 22 Dec 1977, this critique was published by Keith Robertson of the book “Solitary in the Ranks” Lawrence as airman and private soldier”, by H Montgomery Hyde and published by Constable.
“Lawrence may have sought solitude when he refused offers of high office and instead listed in the ranks as an airman.
In April 1962 “Ross: a dramatic portrait” by Terence Rattigan was performed at the New Theatre in Oxford. The lead role of Ross (Lawrence of Arabia) was played by Michael Bryant. In the programme there were some biographical notes on T E Lawrence:
1888 Born in Tremadoc, North Wales
Educated at Oxford High School and Jesus College, Oxford
1909 Travelled through Syria and Palestine alone and on foot to gain material for his chosen thesis on Crusader Castles
1910 Gained first-class honours
1910-14 Worked as an archaeologist with the British Museum Expedition to the Hittite site at Carchemish
1913 Helped in secret military survey in Sinai. On the outbreak of war obtained a job in the Map Section of the War Office
Dec 1914 After Turkey entered the war joined the intelligence service in Cairo
Oct 1916 Landed at Jeddah with Ronald Storrs
1919 Accompanied King Faisal to the Peace Conference and made Fellow of All Souls, Oxford
1920 Appointed Political Adviser to the Colonial Secretary, Winston Churchill
1922 Enlisted in the RAF as J H Ross
1923 Enlisted in the Tank Corps as T E Shaw
1924 Re-enlisted in the RAF as T E Shaw
1935 Discharged from the RAF on expiry of his term of office
March 1935 Killed in a motor-cycle accident near his cottage in Clouds Hill, Dorset
Read also our post of the story “How Lawrence joined the RAF”, as told by one W E Johns in a national newspaper in April 1951. Johns, the author of the Biggles books, was at the time chief recruiting officer at the London Recruiting Depot, and handled the case from start to finish. Fascinating reading.
On August 30, 1922, Lawrence of Arabia arrived at the RAF recruiting office in 4 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London to enlist as John Hume Ross. This newspaper report by W E Johns of Biggles fame (1922) appeared in September 1959 (Johns was 66 at the time and died in 1968). Unfortunately it has not been possible to identify the paper in which it appeared.
“If – as it would seem – the enlistment of T E Lawrence into the RAF is to be made an incident of major historical importance, it is time the truth was told.
Closing remarks on the occasion of the inauguration of the plaque in memory of Lawrence of Arabia by Winston Churchill on 3 October 1936
My task this morning is an easy one. It is on behalf of the Governors of the School to accept charge of this memorial, which I do with a feeling that we of the old School can be proud to remember amongst the names of its scholars that of T.E. Lawrence. We are chiefly concerned at this moment with the address which Mr. Winston Churchill has delivered to us, and the honour he has done us in coming to perform the ceremony we have witnessed this morning.
Mr. Winston Churchill’s address should be an incentive and inspiration to the boys of this School, and also to those who, like myself, are approaching the sere and yellow leaf, to give all the service we possibly can to our fellow creatures, our city, and our country. We are deeply grateful to Mr. Churchill for his services this morning, and it is for this reason that I have the greatest pleasure in proposing that a very hearty vote of thanks be accorded to him, and I ask that you show your approval in the customary manner by acclamation.
Response by the Headmaster on the occasion of the inauguration of the plaque in memory of Lawrence of Arabia by Winston Churchill, 3 October 1936
‘Mr President, Madam Mayor, Mr. Pro Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Winston Churchill, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is my proud and pleasant duty to accept on behalf of the School the plaque which Mr. Winston Churchill has just unveiled.
Continue reading “J.E.Badham Esq MA”
This post and its companions present a full record of everything you need to know about what happened on 3 October 1936, on the school stairs leading up to the hall. All the content comes from memorial booklets published at the time.
‘October the third 1936 was a great day in the history of the School. At 11.15 a.m. the Hall, suitably decorated, was filled with the boys and guests.
Continue reading “The Lawrence Memorial Plaque”