History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

TE Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, was a controversial Army officer and diplomat.  For more information about him see Wikipedia .   Lawrence’s exploits and his work in British intelligence was largely unknown until the American war correspondent Lowell Thomas launched a 1919 lecture tour recounting his assignment in the Middle East. His photographs and films of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ transfixed the public and transformed the British colonel into both a war hero and an international celebrity. Lawrence left military service in 1935, and two months later on 13 May, he was fatally injured in an accident riding his Brough Superior SS100 motorcycle near his cottage in Wareham Dorset. A dip in the road obstructed his view of two boys on bicycles and as he swerved to avoid them, he lost control and was thrown over the handlebars. Six days later he died on 19 May 1935, aged 46. In 1962 David Lean directed the famous film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ starring Peter O’Toole. This stor...