LAWRENCE RELICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23044, 21 November 1936, Page 9

LAWRENCE RELICS

SOLD TO BUY A COTTAGE A series of letters from Lawrence of Arabia which Mr Ernest Thurtle, M.P., is offering for sale at Sotheby’s, reveals a fxdendship between the two which began with questions in the House of Commons (says the Daily Telegraph). Mr Thurtle’s interest in Lawxence .vas aroused by stories of his presence on the North-west Frontier of India in 1928 and rumours that he had been inciting the Afghans to revolt. The Socialist M.P, questioned the Secretary for India about these rumours and also asked why Lawrence had been allowed to enlist in the R.A.F. under the name of T. E. Shaw. “ One night after 1 had come borne from the House,” Mr Thurtle said, “I received a telephone call from a man who said his name was Shaw. ‘“I do not think I know you, i said. ‘ No.' replied the caller, ‘ but you have been asking questions about me in the House of Commons.’ ” Lawrence said he was very anxious not to have his change of name discussed, and Mr Thurtle agreed to withdraw further questions which he had put down. But,” he added, “ how do I know you really are T. E. Shaw? ' Lawrence said he would come to see him at the House the next day.- He duly presented himself in the lobby and filled in the usual visitor’s card—which is included \ h his letters in next month’s sale. The friendship thus begun lasted until Lawrence’s tragic death in a motor cycle accident. Mr Thurtle consulted Lawrence’s brother before deciding to sell the letters. “I am sure Lawrence himselt would have approved,” he said. ‘‘He and I had a common ambition —to own a cottage in the country. Lawrence bought one. but I have not yet got mine. I am going to use the money these letters realise to fulfil my ambition.” Much of the correspondence concerns Mr Thurtle’s agitation for the abolition of the death penalty for desertion in the army and for the abolition of church parade. Both proposals had Lawrence’s warm approval. In one of his letters he wrote that courage and cowardice in war were the same thing and that a man who could run away was a potential V.C. In another. Lawrence confessed that his “ false reputation ” was “as itchy to wear as a false beard.” Two months before his death. Lawrence told Mr Thurtle about his sadness at leaving the PI.A.F.. and referred to the bombing aeroplane as the “ only democratic weapon.”