Thomas Edward Lawrence of Arabia Biography and Timeline

Birth of Thomas Edward Lawrence

Birth of Thomas Edward Lawrence.

Crusader Castle Survey

Travels on foot through Syria and neighbouring areas to study Crusader castles for his Oxford thesis.

Excavation

Joins British Museum excavations at Carchemish, gaining field knowledge of Ottoman Syria.

Excavation

Continues archaeological work at Carchemish before the First World War.

Sinai Survey

Works with archaeological and survey teams in Sinai and the Negev, experience later useful for military intelligence.

Military Intelligence

Joins British military intelligence work after the outbreak of the First World War.

Role range: 1914-1918

Arab Bureau

Serves in Cairo intelligence circles as British officers assess Ottoman Arabia and Arab nationalist politics.

Role range: 1914-1918

Meeting with Faisal

Meets Emir Faisal and identifies him as an effective Arab Revolt commander.

Role range: 1914-1918

Arab Revolt

Is sent to the Hejaz to assess the Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule.

Role range: 1914-1918

Defence of Yanbu

Helps coordinate British and Arab support as Ottoman forces threaten Yanbu.

Role range: 1914-1918

Liaison with Faisal

Becomes an important British liaison with Faisal's Arab forces.

Role range: 1914-1918

Capture of Wejh

Helps support the Arab capture of Wejh on the Red Sea coast.

Role range: 1914-1918

Aircraft Recovery

Joins a party recovering a crashed British aircraft near Wadi Hamdh.

Role range: 1914-1918

Aqaba Expedition

Leaves Wejh with Arab forces for the inland expedition against Aqaba.

Role range: 1914-1918

Railway Sabotage

Conducts reconnaissance and sabotage work on the Damascus-Aleppo railway near Baalbek.

Role range: 1914-1918

Desert March

Crosses difficult desert country with Arab forces during the approach to Aqaba.

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Aba el Lissan

Takes part in the action at Aba el Lissan before the advance on Aqaba.

Role range: 1914-1918

Capture of Aqaba

Helps Arab forces capture Aqaba after an overland desert approach.

Role range: 1914-1918

Report to Allenby

Travels to Cairo after Aqaba and reports the success to British command.

Role range: 1914-1918

Aqaba Base

Uses Aqaba as a supply and operating base for further Arab Revolt operations.

Role range: 1914-1918

Railway Demolition

Continues demolition raids against Ottoman railway lines after Aqaba.

Role range: 1914-1918

Train Attack

Attacks Ottoman railway traffic as part of the Arab guerrilla campaign.

Role range: 1914-1918

Deraa Reconnaissance

Conducts reconnaissance around Deraa during northern operations of the Arab Revolt.

Role range: 1914-1918

Entry into Jerusalem

Enters Jerusalem during General Allenby's formal entry after the Ottoman withdrawal.

Role range: 1914-1918

Jerusalem Campaign

Works with British and Arab forces during the wider Palestine campaign as Jerusalem falls.

Role range: 1914-1918

Alliance with Howeitat

Works with Auda Abu Tayi and Howeitat fighters during the Aqaba campaign.

Role range: 1914-1918

Hejaz Railway Raids

Supports raids that disrupt Ottoman communications along the Hejaz Railway.

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Tafileh

Takes part in the Arab victory at Tafileh and is later awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

Role range: 1914-1918

Tafileh Operations

Helps Arab forces hold Tafileh against Ottoman counterattack.

Role range: 1914-1918

Mudawwara Raid

Takes part in operations against the Ottoman rail station at Mudawwara.

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Megiddo

Supports the Arab northern advance during Allenby's Megiddo offensive.

Role range: 1914-1918

Capture of Deraa

Assists Arab forces operating around Deraa during the Ottoman retreat.

Role range: 1914-1918

Advance on Damascus

Moves with Arab forces during the final advance toward Damascus.

Role range: 1914-1918

Capture of Damascus

Enters Damascus after Arab and Allied forces take the city from the Ottoman Empire.

Role range: 1914-1918

Arab Government

Helps Faisal's supporters organise provisional Arab administration after Damascus falls.

Role range: 1914-1918

Declines Knighthood

Declines a proposed knighthood after the war.

Return to Britain

Returns to Britain after the Arab campaign and the capture of Damascus.

Role range: 1914-1918

Paris Peace Conference

Attends the Paris Peace Conference as an advocate for Faisal and Arab claims.

Arab Delegation

Supports Emir Faisal's delegation during negotiations over the postwar Middle East.

Cairo Conference

Participates in the Cairo Conference on Britain's Middle Eastern policy.