LAWRENCE OE ARABIA

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 20, 24 July 1933, Page 3

LAWRENCE OE ARABIA

LEAVES THE AIR FORCE

Aircraftsman Shaw, better known as "Lawrence of Arabia," the scholar who raised an Arab army to help the Allies against the Turks, has left -the Eoyal Air Force, says a writer in the "Daily Mail."

Whilo the whole world has been puzzled as to why Lawrence of Arabia abandoned his picturesque life for the routine existence of a humble aircraftman, I have been one of the few people who have heard the story from his own lips. I recall vividly what he told me.

"I had the choice, more or less, of being a Wing Commander or an aircfaftsman," he said. "I preferred to be the latter. "Being an aircraftsman, I can keep to myself as much as possible and lead my own life. As an officer, things would be very different. '.'No, this is the life I like. It is simple and disciplined. I wouldn't even like to be an N.C.0."

When I asked him whether the authorities did not find it a little awkward to have a man of his position sewing as a ranker, he retorted: "Don't you think I'm entitled to a little reward f I gave Churchill Irak. I think they ought to let me be an aircraftsman. '' \

A man bought a bundle of old books at an auction at Wickford, England, for one shilling. Between the leaves of one of them he found ten £1 notes..