TROOPER'S EXPERIENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22172, 27 July 1935, Page 17

TROOPER'S EXPERIENCE

" SAVED . LAWRENCE'S LIFE " EPISODE IN PALESTINE Stories of Lawrence of Arabia, revived by his recent tragic death, continue to bo told Ex-Trooper N. S. Brown, of New Plymouth, supplies the Taranaki Daily News with the following account ot how he probably saved Lawrence'is life from a very "unexpected" clanger:— "It was during General Allcnby's triumphal march through Palestine that our regiment, the Auckland Mounted Rifles, was sent across the River Jordan on a hastiily-constructed pontoon bridge to assist Lawrence and his wild men of Mecca to demolish a portion of the Mecca-Damascus railway. "I was among the first few to pass over this Ibridge, and as soon as I set foot on the far side a small man dressed an a Turk strode out from among tho dense Jordan willows and made for the bridge. A very young and inexperienced English sentry called 'Halt, or I'll shoot!' "The apparent Turk took no notice and the sentry raised his rifle to fire. I instantly recognised the features of Colonel Lawrence, whom I had previously seen riding on a State camel in company with the sheriff of Mecca and his staff. I rushed the sentry and prevented him from firing. The great man then passed me with a smile and a nod, just as though nothing unusual had happened."