2016 Symposium

Thank you to everyone who attended the

14th Symposium of the
T. E. Lawrence Society

St John’s College, Oxford
Friday 23 to Sunday 25 September 2016

Commemorating the centenary of the Arab Revolt

In the centenary year of the outbreak of the Arab Revolt, we are
delighted to report that a record number of delegates joined us for our 14th Symposium, held at St John’s College, Oxford.

Over the three days of the Symposium, a special programme of
lectures marked this very special occasion. Two exhibitions showcased archaeological artefacts from the Great Arab Revolt Project, as well as photographs of Egypt and Palestine taken during the First World War collected as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund-sponosored project, Views of an Antique Land, run by Cardiff University.

On the Friday night, delegates were joined by members of the public for a staged reading of Jan Woolf’s new play about Lawrence, The Man with the Gold.

The Great Hall at St John’s was packed for our traditional candlelit dinner on the Saturday night, clearly demonstrating the continuing interest in Lawrence around the world. We hope to see everyone again in 2018 when we will be marking the culmination of the Arab Revolt with the taking of Damascus in 1918.

Chairman Philip Neale opens proceedings in the centennial year of the outbreak of the Arab Revolt
Chairman Philip Neale opens proceedings in the centennial year of the outbreak of the Arab Revolt

Symposium Speakers

Roger Holehouse - The Strategic Context to the Arab Revolt
Roger Holehouse – The Strategic Context to the Arab Revolt

 

Dr Steve Mills and Professor Paul T. Nicholson - Views of An Antique Land: Egypt and Palestine During the First World War
Dr Steve Mills & Professor Paul T. Nicholson – Views of An Antique Land: Egypt and Palestine During the First World War

 

(Left) Philip Walker - New Light on the Arab Revolt and the Forgotten Few Who Shaped It; (Right) Professor Ali Allawi - Feisal and the Arab Revolt
(Left) Philip Walker – New Light on the Arab Revolt and the Forgotten Few Who Shaped It; (Right) Professor Ali Allawi – Feisal and the Arab Revolt

 

(Left) George Thompson - Seeing Arabia: The Personal Photographs of T. E. Lawrence taken between 1916-1918; (Right) John Johnson-Allen - T. E. Lawrence and the Red Sea Patrol
(Left) George Thompson – Seeing Arabia: The Personal Photographs of T. E. Lawrence taken between 1916-1918; (Right) John Johnson-Allen – T. E. Lawrence and the Red Sea Patrol

 

(Left) Group Captain John Alexander - “Aeroplanes and Arabs”: T. E. Lawrence as Proponent of Air Power and the British Way in Warfare; (Right) Kerry Webber - Colonel Newcombe & Lawrence: Beyond Arabia
(Left) Group Captain John Alexander – “Aeroplanes and Arabs”: T. E. Lawrence as Proponent of Air Power and the British Way in Warfare; (Right) Kerry Webber – Colonel Newcombe & Lawrence: Beyond Arabia

 

Dr Neil Faulkner - Lawrence of Arabia’s War
Dr Neil Faulkner – Lawrence of Arabia’s War

 

Dick Benson-Gyles - The Boy in the Mask
Dick Benson-Gyles – The Boy in the Mask

The Man with the Gold

Rehearsal for Friday night's staged reading of Jan Woolf's new play The Man with the Gold
Rehearsal for Friday night’s staged reading of Jan Woolf’s new play The Man with the Gold

 

After-show Q&A session with director Philip Wilson, playwright Jan Woolf and historical adviser Dr Neil Faulkner
After-show Q&A session with director Philip Wilson, playwright Jan Woolf and historical adviser Dr Neil Faulkner

Exhibition of artefacts from
the Great Arab Revolt Project

.303 cartridge cases, probably ammunition for the machine gun on a Rolls-Royce armoured car
.303 cartridge cases, probably ammunition for the machine gun on a Rolls-Royce armoured car

 

(Left) Can of condensed milk; (Right) Tobacco tin found at Feisal's base at Wuheida
(Left) Can of condensed milk; (Right) Tobacco tin found at Feisal’s base at Wuheida

 

Railway sleeper blasted in an ambush
Railway sleeper blasted in an ambush

 

Hand grenades marked with a crescent and star to show they were made for the Ottoman Empire
Hand grenades marked with a crescent and star to show they were made for the Ottoman Empire
Outside the lecture hall
Society bookshop showcases the latest editions from our line-up of speakers
Society bookshop showcases the latest editions from our line-up of speakers

 

Specialist bookseller Rickaro Books joins us again
Specialist bookseller Rickaro Books joins us again

 

Delegates relax between lectures
Delegates relax between lectures

 

Summaries of all the lectures will be published in the Society’s Winter 2016 Newsletter. The Society would like to express its grateful thanks to Roger Herrera for providing photographs of the event.

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All photographs  © Roger Herrera

The international Society for everyone with an interest in the life of T. E. Lawrence