Thomas Lawrence (16th August 1888 to 19th May 1935)

The film Lawrence of Arabia starring Peter O'Toole was based on a real action hero - army officer and adventurer Thomas Lawrence. Oddly after a life of dare and danger he came of his motorbike in Dorset while trying to avoid two boys on bicycles. He was considered such an important part of the war effort that Winston Churchill attended his funeral. Here I am at his grave in a pretty cemetery in Moreton, Dorset.

Reading about him I doubt he was ever going to lead a long life. Aged 17 he ran away from home to join the Army. His dad eventually caught up with him and forced him to return home. Thomas attended Oxford university and sailed to Beirut to follow his ambition of becoming an archeologist. Not only did he learn Arabic (and worked at the British Museum's excavations in northern Syria and Iraq) he lived as one, wearing their clothing, speaking their language and learning their culture. This came in handy when World War I broke out and he was posted to the Military Intelligence Department in Cairo. He was sent to Mecca and his knowledge of Arabic language and culture enabled him to work directly with the Arab leaders. He convinced them to work together in their revolt to aid British interests, helping them capture the city of Aqaba. The Arabs population loved him for his willingness to adapt to their customs and his efforts to help the British cause meant he was made a Commander in the Order of the Bath and got a cabinet worth of medals and honours.

The actions of this real-life Action Man may have gone unnoticed but when he was 33 the press discovered his daring exploits and they ran blaze a publicity around him. When British tried to govern Iraq the Arab mounted a revolt and Winston Churchill and Lawrence achieved a settlement. Lawrence returned home to great acclaim in the press and was thought to have saved the lives of thousands of soldiers.

Loathing attention he joined the RAF under an assumed name but the media found him and he was forced to leave. He joined the Royal Tank Corps under another false name but he wasn’t a good fit and transfer back to the RAF. Eventually the media was too much and he transferred to a remote base in British India where he remained until he was 40 years old.

Aged 46 he finally left military service and settled down to a quiet life in Dorset. This lasted about eight weeks. He was riding his motorcycle when he came across a dip in the road. It obstructed his view of two boys on their bicycles and just as he was upon them he swerved to avoid them, lost control and was thrown over the handlebars. He never regained consciousness and died six days later. He was buried when I’m stood after a well-attended funeral which Winston Churchill attended. His role in the Oscar winning movie Lawrence of Arabia was played by actor Peter O'Toole.

I'd been on a coach holiday to Weymouth when - on the way home - we had a thirty-minute stop in Moreton. The still-life could go for an ice-cream but the knowledgeable driver pointed up a lane and said "if anyone wants to visit Lawrence Of Arabia he's buried at the back of the churchyard." Out of about fifty people there were only about six of us went to find the grave. The others went for ice cream cornets. I prefer the grave of a famous person over an ice cream any day (you can have them at home any time.)

The church nearby where the funeral service was held...

The coffin being carried into the church...

The coffin being taken to the grave nearby...

The motorbike on which he died...