What's the most interesting thing you learned about Lawrence of Arabia?

The idea that Lawrence committed suicide by the idiotic method of purposely crashing his motorcycle is absurd. Anyone with half a brain would be afraid of crippling himself instead of dying.

T.E. was a highly intelligent, troubled soul who lived a life of extremes, dreams and aspirations until his untimely death that has unanswered questions still, but suicide by motorcycle crash is nonsense, despite his wish to die, (as many people do without acting upon it.) Reading his books and his words give a glimpse into his soul, a man of principle, tormented by inner doubts , but a MAN of spiritual stature. Let him R.I.P. please.

He is also responsible for the development of motorcycle helmet and the use of it to prevent severe head injuries as he died of the same. Edit: When I said he is responsible for developing helmets I meant his fatal accident. Someone said incorrect without understanding. Thank you.

"... he also, undeniably, has modern blood in his hand". The biggest anacronical bullshit someone could ever say.

"Undeniably has modern blood on his hands" To suggest Lawrence's use of guerilla warfare was the first and therfeore all modern warfare using these tactics is because of him is ridiculous. Im sure through the annuals of history will show any small force against an over welmingly large one can only survive using those tactics. I think the modern day Arabs would have worked that out themselves !!!

"Modern blood on his hands...", What a crazy piece of logic! As if NOBODY else would have invented IEDs (aka boobytraps).

Hugh Cairns was a neurologist in 1935 who treated Lawrence and later developed early versions of crash helmets. You might say that there is a direct line from Lowell Thomas through Lawrence and Cairns to the motorcycle and other helmets we use today.

I saw the movie in 1962 when I was 7 years old. He became my hero gave me the call to adventure. Joined the French Foreign Legion in the seventies. Went to the desert in Africa and lived the dream ! Thank you Lawrence for that call to adventure and following the seldom followed path.

I’ve read The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. I was interested in it as my grandfather used to run guns and gold for Lawrence.

"I wrote my will across the stars" WOW! Powerful words

His father was an Englishman whose family owned land in Ireland, he wasn’t an Irish man. They’re known as Anglo-Irish noblemen.

In 1960 a play ran in London's West end called " Ross ". It was written by Terence Rattigan and concerned Lawrence's time in the RAF. The eponymous hero was played by Alec Guinness, who starred in the movie " Lawrence of Arabia ".

“The Seven Pillars of Wisdom” by him is a must read

I live near where he crashed his bike we have it in a museum down here it's really mad to think he roamed the same roads I do

Learning about T.E. Lawrence introduced me to Gertrude Bell. Writer, archaeologist and political officer for the British Empire. Who was responsible for establishing the Iraq Museum and was immensely influential in forming the borders of Iraq. Recent studies from former secret documents and archive sources - her journals and letters and accounts about her from relevant contemporaries, including Lawrence ( who knew her personally ) have provided significant proof her contributions had a greater impact then even Lawrence. She spent her life studying the languages and cultures of the Middle East, integrating with the natives on a far more intimate level than Lawrence. No exciting battles or dramatic conflicts. She achieved her goals through diplomatic means. She has been called " The Secret Kingmaker". Yet until recent years, she has been historically ignored. In 2015 a film, "The Queen of the Desert" was released. Nicole Kidman plays Gertrude. 2017 a documentary, "Letters from Baghdad" gives a fascinating account of this woman's life. P.S. 7:05 In the photograph, Gertrude can be seen standing in the far left.

He didn't invent the use of guerilla warfare in the middle east, he just adapted it to the modern battlefields of the first world war, in the middle east.

He packed more into his short life than a hundred of us could dare to dream. It didn't mention the cycling tour of France as a teenager, the trip to the Byzantine castles before his 21st birthday. That he saved the life of German archeological crew also at Carchemish during a revolt. The 4 years spent there he established schooling and healthcare for all the kids, not just one. Some of the maps he worked on included the coast of Gallipoli that were used in the landing by the Australian and New Zealand Corps. The whole family would have been interesting people. From other books I've read, his older brother and their mother were among the first missionaries to China in the 1920's

Lawrence left the British Army and then re enlisted in the RFC (RAF) as an Airman, in the 70's I was Based at an RAF Training camp at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire England, I was working in an Old Building At Cranwell which was an earlier Concrete Hut, Circa 1920 and came apone an old inscription scribed on a bunk wall..."Lawrence of Arabia" to this day I can see him.... 3

“Tragic truth” what a sensationalist title for facts that are easily obtained in biographies! BTW the famous blockbuster film by David Lean simplifies the events incredibly, as well as misrepresents major political and cultural figures important to him, including Prince Faisal, who was younger and less aloof that played by Alex Guinness. This KZfaq narrative makes a big deal of quoting magazine commentaries - pretty lazy effort.

Lawrence was brought up in Victorian times so is difficult to understand with today's thinking. He was essentially an incredibly kind, humble and private man from what I can gather from his Hundreds of letters written while in RAF College Cranwell where I work. He carried alot of guilt and damage and would have recieved support today. The truth regarding his death was due to be released in 2020. He is fondly remembered in Lincs and RAF College Cranwell Library has a Lawrence room and there is a Lawrence club on site.

His book on the seven pillars of wisdom also describes the Turkish genocide on the Armenians, and how the atheistic young Turcs wanted a pure Turkish bloodline, hating Armenians, Arabs, and everyone who was different. He also includes how the Arabs revolted on one occasion (before Lawrence was a leading figure), and the Turcs "having trained killing on the Armenians" raped the Arab women, cemented the men into ther house and lit them on fire, followed by killing every breathing person and animal in the city. Lawrence, heaing all these things, was really supportive for the Arabs to become free from Turkish tiranny. He really believed that the British Empire would support their cause for the same noble reason. But what the Arabs warned him of, became true: Britain wasn't interested in freeing the Arabs, Christians and other minorities from Turkish annihilation, but was only interested in what their hands could take once power was destabilised in the region. In short: the Young Turcs are still applauded in the West for being "Western", while the genocides are condemmed without naming the perpetrators. History proved the hypocrisy of British words and promises, and still proves the hypocrisy of Western standards. Democracy and freedom are what Western people think they spread, but outside Europe people only see the harsh political reality: the West does not want it for the rest of the world so it seems. It is a difficult truth to live with.

Interesting. However, I am struck by the fact that on one hand the Narrator states that Lawrence was a HOMOSEXUAL, BUT THEN HE GOES ON TO STATE WHETHER HE WAS OR WAS ASEXUAL IS UP FOR DEBATE. Why mention the former as a definite, when the latter is still possible?

You have got your cottages mixed up - Lawrence moved into a summerhouse in his parents garden. The cottage shown is "Clouds Hill" which Lawrence bought when he was much older - it is one mile north of Bovington Camp in Dorset and is where he was living when he died in a motorcycle accident

I remember my dad let me stay up past my bedtime to watch the movie. What a treat!!!

"He now joined the royal air force in the tank core" that dont sound right

Great piece, loved it.. every thing about him is interesting, literally everything..

Lawrence of Arabia would be thrown in jail nowadays. He helped and worked with Syrians, Persians ( Iran ) and Arabs to defeat Turkey ( Now a NATO country ) The Brittish have SAS training the Turks. America has Green Berets and SEALS stationed in Turkey on a full time basis. My how things have changed.

The two boys mentioned at 10:42 ( approx) were spectators on a near by hill, they heard the approaching Motorcycle+ sidecar, they said in witness testimony that a big black saloon coming the other way had caught the bike a glancing blow & caused the crash, the car did not stop but carried on !.( smoking gun) Their testimony was refuted & declared a little boys story?( smoking gun) Further Lawerence, was left on a camp bed in a nearby school, when he should reasonably have gone to hospital.. ( smoking gun) { the cover was; deemed to badly injured to move } He lasted longer than they expected, without proper medical care..a very Dark stain on Dark forces at work.

You left out the fact that he was about 5ft 2. Which is ironic since Peter O'toole was well over 6ft tall.

One of the best videos I have seen in a long time. Thanks.

The best biography, fair, perceptive, and compassionate, is John Mack’s “A Prince of Our Disorder.” I have read lots of them.

Blaming Lawrence for modern use of IEDs and the like in the Middle East is misguided and cynical.

I literally finished watching his movie last night and now I got this video as a suggestion to watch.

Thanks for that last bit. Damn proper of you.

He was an archaeologist,a romantic intellectual and the British government's man in the eyes of those who believed him and the promises and commitments he made to them...Unfortunately,it was all canceled with the stroke of a pen by the Sykes-Picot agreement,and he could do little to protest,so he punished himself by writing...Some fabricated rape and torture fantasies woven into the narrative,is a classic form of psychological self catharsis,along with a change of his name,and joining the Air Force instead!... It was in fact,due to an American Journalist,Lowell Thomas,that the romanticized myth of Lawrence of Arabia was created, then made into a movie,with an unforgettable sound track for good measure,by Maurice Jarre. Things were actually much simpler...A tortured, perhaps homosexual soul with a morbid fear and loathing of being touched,didn't help,neither did his short physical stature,but a brilliant mind and with a flair for foreign and especially oriental languages and dialects,Arabic,Greek,and many others too...Lost much too soon,too early,while pursuing another passion of his...Speed!...R.I.P. T.E. Lawrence...you,have done enough!...

Peter OToole was great in the part

The one single, monumental part of Lawrence's true life story, the part that the iconic movie completely ignores... OIL -the reason for everything in the Middle East. Lawrence was trained as an MI6 intelligence agent to make sure the British grabbed it from the Arabs.... As to his death... it is highly suspected, and indeed substantial proof that he was assassinated under direct orders from his very close 'friend' Winston Churchill. Lawrence was very outspoken and knew a lot of government secrets, including Churchill's personal dark dealings... My intense research of him showed that Lawrence quickly realized that on the wide, flat deserts he had to cross with heavy loads of explosives and weapons, an automobile could cover ground much faster than a camel. But these weren’t just any automobiles. Lawrence’s desert raiding machines comprised nine Rolls Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost motorcars, including a personal vehicle he named the Blue Mist. Churchill knew that Lawrence was an adventurer and that he loved his Brough Superior motorcycles more than probably his typewriter. The experience Lawrence underwent at the hands of the Turks made it impossible for him to have any sensible relationship. His love was transferred to his motorcycle, his cottage and typewriter. The David Lean movie starts with Lawrence's motorcycle'accident'... Year’s later evidence relating to the crash that had hitherto been suppressed began to surface. Revealed were the vital clues to a mysterious black car that had been deliberately ignored at Lawrence's strange 'official' inquest, at the insistence of MI5 the British secret service. Equally controversially the investigation into Lawrence's death was not conducted by the local police, the normal procedure, but by MI5 officials who surrounded Bovington military camp where the inquest was held. One can only wonder why such extreme measures were taken for what was claimed to be a simple accident. What was there to hide? Nevertheless, one serving soldier stationed at Bovington did claim to have seen a black car at the scene of the accident. This soldier, Private Catchpole, was so unnerved by his cross examination - or subsequent events - that he conveniently shot himself. Not the kind of true history that the likes of Wikipedia and the 'History' Channel peddles is it?

What I find silly is that you assume that we all learn by watching movies. Come on! Some of us actually read you know: Lawrence was an archaeologist, an astute historian and linguist, and his book Seven Pillars of Wisdom, is a classic which you should read. The MOVIE is just that: a movie!!!

Lawrence was a fine man. . My father, who lived in those times and was also accepted by the Bedouine, knew him and and respected him. The film was and remains a classic.No need to remake. Harping on about his sexuality is disrespectful and you have no right to take away his accomplishments. As my dad said " the poor devil was buggered by the Turks" a horrible and emotionally damaging event as is any rape and Lawrence was raped by more than one of them. My dad believed that this was perhaps why he crashed that bike .Have some respect for a man who was certainly a man of his time but was heroic, courageous and a man of action.

I used to work near the Tank Depot called Bovington and passed Clouds Hill everyday on the same road on my motorbike and because I knew its past,was always very careful.Although the road is all tar now,in his day in the the middle it was a gravel track.Its no surprise that he had an accident on it.David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia was and is my favourite film.Its no surprise that the Toxic UK/US Media hounded him into an early grave,nothing much has changed,its still Toxic now.

Astronomical Eclips in Warfare: July 05, 1917 Thomas Edward Lawrence aka "Lawrence of Arabia" used his knowledge of astronomical phenomena to carry out a daring night raid under the darkness of a total eclipse of the Moon. While the defenders were preoccupied by the Lunar eclipse, T.E. Lawrence and his troop of fifty Bedouin successfully pressed home their attack on the city of Aqaba - Jordan. No wonder why he became such an icon of leadership.

What a fascinating life this man led its straight out of a boys own adventure book fantastic video subbed and liked

AS THE DARKNESS FALLS, AND ARABIA CALLS ONE MAN SPREADS HIS WINGS AS THE BATTLE BEGINS MAY THE LAND LAY CLAIM ON TO LAWRENCE NAME SEVEN PILLARS OS WISDOM LIGHTS THE FLAME

He was a very skilled motor cycle rider. I have some doubt that the account of his death is accurate. He may have been killed by the Foreign Office for his criticism of British Middle East policy.

I HAD TOO chk this out - as this movie haunted me as a Kid...beings we Only had ONE tv ( it was the 60s/70's with NO Remote ) we kids were dads remote control...My DAD MADE US watch this movie every time it was on......so DAMMIT I'm gonna Finally find out the truth...I must have seen LOA 30+ times... Im 60 now

That was interesting! Thanks !

I’ve visited his home twice and each time felt his presence there strongly. I think he was a strange but extraordinary person.

Just a clarification : when lawrence said "half-Europeanized Arabs" he didn't mean our genetics or how our people look like...he meant our culture because it is very similer to that of europeans if you get to know it better we Arabs and europeans are the only two peoples on earth that have so many similarities in looks , culture and mentality. Maybe because we are both of the same race Caucasians *Dahoom doesn't mean "the little dark one" it means something like a "playboy" or a little kid that do or speaks stuff not for his age. The movie Lawrance of Arabia was a master piece... my only objection is the use of non Arabs "dark" people to play as Arab soldiers for the low cost I think, but it irretates me because that's not how we look like.

I just watched the movie the other day. I still need to read his book.

He was not killed in a speeding bike. The gear was in second when found. He was travelling at 20 mph. He wore no helmet (they had not been invented).

Can you tell me where I can find audio recordings of Lawrence's actual voice? What he sound like?

Lawrence means a great deal to us in the Hejaz .

One of my favorite movies. Shot on location, history. What a extraordinary life he led.

I'm sure I heard that he was instrumental in setting up the Air Sea Rescue service that saved many aircrew in the second world war.

Read "The Mint" his book about his life in the RAF. A great read!

This is one my all-time favourite Films. If you have not seen it please place on your to do list!

I read an article in THE BARNES REVIEW that argued in favor of the idea that he was assassinated because he favored a peaceful relationship with Germany. I can't remember the details, but I found it pretty convincing.

3 inaccuracies : The cottage shown at 0:58 is at Cloud's Hill in Dorset, where Lawrence lived in his 30s , NOT the separate apartment he had behind his family home in Oxford. The Arab revolt initiated in 1916 , not 1919. Lawrence served in the RAF as an Aircraftsman(ground crew) and also on rescue boats. He was never a pilot.

How many mistakes can one program on Lawrence make? He never joined the RAF as a pilot; the crash that killed him was not high speed, the bike was in second gear when recovered which would have limited its top speed to about 40 mph; he was not only a map maker in Cairo during the early part of the war but was producing a news sheet on Arab notables and tribes for circulation through the army; just prior to the war he was a civilian in an army party tasked with mapping Sinai Peninsular; Lowell Thomas spent a day and half with Lawrence and was not present at any of the military engagements. To say that someone has modern blood on his hands for using explosives on a railway in 1917 and who died in 1935 is pure hyperbole. Incidentally, it was one of the British troops who accompanied Lawrence who developed the improvised charges, not Lawrence.

Some people are born to greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them.....Lawrence was the later.

Hang on a tick... was this video just a ruse, an elaborate commercial for the suicide hotline?! j/k I love T.E. Lawrence, and Lawrence of Arabia is my favourite film. Great vid!

He spent a summer in Aberdeenshire along with a fellow tank soldier. Both seemingly were fond of flagellation.

Think agae for the video😀

NEVER subject yourself to watching: "A Dangerous Man" which is Ralph Fiennes acting like Peter O'toole in his portrayal of T.E. Lawrence. O'toole never met Lawrence and went on instinct for this role, but Fiennes uses all of O'toole's mannerisms and speech patterns and this sad, ridiculous charade just pounds the image to death.

Roteiro inteligente, grandes atores, um tema.musical lindo! Coloco-o entre os 10 melhores de todos os tempos! Fascinante!!!

It is ridiculous that modern docos and writers try to find a fault in such brave and noble adventurers like Lawrence of Arabia. They fought in harsh desert lands, without water or food, so, they were brave and amazing, period..!!

When I worked at Bovington I used to pass Clouds Hill every morning on the same road Lawrence came off his motorbike.I was very conscious of this and took extra care especially when Tank Transports were using the same road.If it wasn’t for the UK Media hounding him he could of faded away. Nothing much has changed on that score,the British Media are anathema to any decent person,including Heroes like Lawrence,like it or not he was one.

PSA was unexpected, very cool. If you need help call. Great overview.

This video is nonsense. He was a friend of the Arab people. The Arabs knew that it would be easier to expel the British than than the Turks. After the war he and Gertrude Bell helped the Arabs. The British themselves expelled the Vichy French from the Middle East. He designed rescue boats for the RAF pilots. Anybody knows motorcycles are dangerous.

I never tire of this movie. It’s not history, but it’s a terrific historical yarn. Also a great test of my stereo system!!

where 10:25 from?

I'm saving this video for my husband, he's a big history buff, he will enjoy it and be saddened by it

The quote from his memoir isn't racist at all it's just the way you're interpreting it, he said he'd rather deal with the average everyday Arab versus one who has had his brain twisted by the Europeans, it seems like more of a condemnation of europeans. It really bothers me when these quasi-historical shows just end up being hit pieces.

thank you

A friend told me many years ago that he knew someone that claimed that he discovered Lawrence's motorbike rusting away chained to a rail at the cottage.

I’ve read a lot of books from the early 20th century and they all seem to have a very standardized almost stuffy writing style. However, not 7 pillars of wisdom. TE Lawrence writes with a lot of emotion personality that I think is still almost unparalleled to find in an autobiographical work. If you’re looking for a specific example, read all of book 10. It is genuinely the highlight of the book for me.

Badly written script. Could have been a fascinating insight into this extraordinary man ‘s short but dynamic life. Disappointing !

He was also credited with developing the first air sea rescue service for downed airmen. It saved many lives..

What's so tragic about his life?

Lawrence joined the Arab Revolt in 1916, not 1919.

I loved the grandeur and epic portrayal of the land, places and people of the movie. Unfortunately it soured and I have no longer been able to watch it when I learned that our Australian Light Horse soldiers were written out of the war history of the time by Lawrence. I think it's thoughtless disrespect to deny those who sacrifice and fight for the war effort to be forgotten regardless of idealism. So with my heart still full I have written this prose for them about this tragedy. And it goes for all those forgotten. *The 4th Australian Light Horse* _The sands of loneliness_ _Traversed on the blooded and steady Waler horse_ _Head well up and girth cinched tight_ _The proud young Australian bushman sits_ _Answering the call to arms and duty_ _Flare and adventure still bright and keen_ _In the hearts of our wise young men_ _A brigade of bright young larrikiins_ _How lightly we spend the spirit_ _Of the hero who falls_ _Mocking him with our forgetfulness_ _Lest we forget_ (CJ Whitney copyright 2020)

Very nice and sweet, heartfelt ending to this. Yes, I've read the books, seen the film and had my suspicions. I did not know about the RAF and Tank Corps episodes. That final letter IS very telling.

I highly recommend the TV movie made in 1992 “A Dangerous Man” starring Ralph Fiennes

I learned that Peter O'Toole strongly resembled T.E. Lawrence.

The film was a brilliant film also the music.

Extremely well done and very informative! Thanks for the post!

I am watching the Oscar winning Best Picture film, Lawrence of Arabia, for the umpteenth time, and it doesn't bore me as a four hour epic on the contributions of British officer T. E. Lawrence to the betterment of the Arab world against the Turks. As far as the man was concerned, his complex life is secondary to me. What was important was his attempt to make a strong difference in the lives of Middle Easterners and their quest for freedom. At least he was a beneficiary of it.

From the pictures, I learned, when TE Lawrence was in the air force under the name "Ross", he pioneered both jets and helicopters!

The Brough superior is pronounced " Bruff " not " bro " .

Why is this bio going up and down several times? We are losing the story as it changes many times

2 boys were not ivolved in TE's cycle death but 1 truck was. The movie made up a lot of "details".

... um ... it's not even "irony" - let alone "irony of ironies" .......

Lawrence reported that he was raped, when he was captured by the Turks--the officer ordered, "Show him everything"---who didn't know that he was British, but, as I recollect, thought he was Ossetian, instead. (Ossetia is in southern Russia, between Georgia and Chechnya.

that was quite well done

The Great War (and the Arab Revolt) ended in 1918. How did Lawrence join the Revolt in 1919?

Lawrence was only a small part of the Hejaz military mission. Read " Masters of Mayhem" it was considered and masterful campaign in which Lawrence played a small part.

The Movie is quite well done, in particular the deep emotional turmoil Lawrence experienced in the war .... adapting to the dessert Arab ways and just tough existence - a great cinematic story !!! Saw it when I was young .... loved it. GBjj

His life was a real paradox but I found it profoundly interesting ideed.

Reminds me CIA SAD operators now, like Alex in COD