Beschreibung:

Lawrence (Thomas Edward, 1888-1935, attributed to). British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer, known as 'Lawrence of Arabia'. A World War One period brass marching compass, the brass casing enclosing the remains of compass card laid on mother of pearl, the base contemporarily engraved ‘Stf. CAPT. T.E. LAWRENCE’, 7.5 cm long (Quantity: 1) Provenance: Warwick George Cary ESM, MSTJ, JP (1949-2020), was an Australian medals collector, dealer and military historian. This compass was discovered among his effects but until then the family were unaware of its existence. The family subsequently found a folder with notes showing that his attempts to conclusively authenticate the compass. Among these papers, (included with the lot), are some documents and photographs relating to when the compass was loaned and used as part of a display of T. E. Lawrence artefacts exhibited alongside the the Ray Simpson V.C. Memorial Medal Exhibition, held in the Auditorium of the Paddington-Woollahra RSL Memorial Co-Operative Limited, Sydney, Australia, 17-23 March 1980. The catalogue description for the T. E. Lawrence display shows the reverse of this compass with the engraving and was catalogued as: 'A Brass Field Compass. Reverse inscribed St./Capt. T. E. Lawrence (Circa 1915)'. However, where and how Warwick acquired it, in Australia or on one of his trips to UK, is completely unknown. The compass is therefore sold as seen and not subject to return. Lawrence's ranks, real and supposed, are confusing and difficult to follow. This is a summary of some of the most salient rank information which covers the period Lawrence would most likely have had this engraved, i.e. circa 1916: 'T. G. Lawrence [sic], to be a temporary Second Lieutenant. Dated 23rd October 1914' (London Gazette, 5 November 1914). This was corrected to T. E. Lawrence on 17 November 1914; 'Temp 2nd Lt. T. E. Lawrence to be temp. Capt. whilst specially employed. 20th Mar. 1916' (LG, 18 April 1916). When Liddell Hart asked Lawrence when he became a captain, TEL replied: 'I was Staff Captain. I lost it on going to Mespot[amia], so Hedley arranged a local captaincy' (David Garnett, The Letters of T. E. Lawrence, p. 85). In the London Gazette for 16 May 1916 Lawrence is listed with his full name for the first time' having been awarded the Croix de Chevalier: 'Temp. 2nd Lt. Thomas Edward Lawrence, Spec. List.' In January 1916 TEL made a list of the general staff of the intelligence section, Cairo (LG, 21 June 1916): 'I have now been made a Captain and Staff Captain again, which is amusing. It doesn't make any difference of course really, as I am never in uniform in Arabia, and nobody cares a straw what rank I hold, except that I am of Sherif Feisul's [sic] household' (TEL letter of 25 February 1917). Lawrence was advanced from Temporary Captain to Temporary Major on 5 August 1917, and now called 'Major Lawrence' (LG, 4 August 1917); appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 4 June 1917, but tells his mother 'My address is simply T.E.L., no titles please'. His name appears on a list of Staff Captains on 1st October 1917 (LG, 3 January 1918). More simply explained, TEL wrote to Robert Graves in 1927: 'Worked at G.H.Q. till 1916, ... Graded as Staff Capt. General List (actually 2nd Lieut.) Captain about 1916. Major 1917. Lt. Col. 1918. Promoted Major in order to be given C.B. for capture of Akaba. Finally graded G.S.O.1.'