LAWRENCE, T.E. (1888-1935). 'Lawrence of Arabia'.
Fine unpublished Autograph Letter Signed to Flight Sergeant A.E. Clarke ('Dear Flight'), signed 'T.E. Shaw', 2 pages 4to with envelope, 119 Clarence Road, East Cowes. The postmark of this letter is obscured, but it evidently dates from Lawrence's period as an aircraftman at RAF Mountbatten , Plymouth, from March 1929.

A wide-ranging letter, discussing power-boat problems, particularly of one boat which had been kept in storage for the owner; praising 'Tarka' (Tarka the Otter, by Henry Williamson); and specifically recommending other books.

'... I am sorry the boat has been a problem in storage. As there is no petrol in here, perhaps Mr. Maygottling would take her into the stores side of No. 2 shed ... Yesterday I saw Major Colin Cooper, her proper owner, and he will probably take her back. ... There is some idea of handing her over to Scott Paine for a new racing engine, and having a crack at her class record!
'I am glad 201 + 203 are still doing their stuff, & hope the fitters are near the end of their work on 213. It has been a long job - three engines, of course! Please tell Corpl. Bradbury that 27, the first twin pinnace, should go into the water on Monday next fr propellor trials. ...'
Tarka is an extraordinary book: too much worked over, but magnificent.
There have been three good books already year - The Book of Talbot - by Violet Clifton / Log of the Sea - Riesenburg / Captain Bottell - James Hanley / and a account of his boyhood by a Blasket Islander, translated from Gaelic.
'... I'm sorry to say there's another book on me coming out, a study, by Captain Liddell Hart, of my military signficance in the fields of strategy and tactics. Woof!'

Lawrence had enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1922, under the name of John Hume Ross. He changed his name again to T.E. Shaw in the following year. Although he briefly left the RAF for the Tank Corps when his identity became known he soon returned. The name of Shaw was legalised by deed poll in 1927. He was happiest in his R.A.F. career working on perfecting power boats to use in sea rescue of fallen airmen, initiating the development of the Air Sea Rescue launch. Much of his time was spent with the manufacturers of the boats and their engines. His expertise in the field was acknowledged by his superior officers, and they allowed him to dispense with the less congenial aspects of military life. His preference for machines over people made this period of his short life the most pleasant he had enjoyed for years.

Lawrence's admiration for Henry Williamson's Tarka The Otter was quite genuine. He wrote on 20 January 1928 to Edward Garnett a letter of almost 5000 words almost entirely on the book. And, incidentally, it was to Williamson that he sent the final message before his fatal motor cycle accident, inviting him to lunch the following Tuesday.

Not published by David Garnett (The Letters of T.E. Lawrence, London, 1938, nor in Malcolm Brown's selection of published and newly discovered letters (London, 1988).

2500-3000
[No: 26771]