T. E. Lawrence — and his Brough Superior SS100 Motorcycles

“An article in a certain paper was once brought to my notice which stated that T.E.L. always rode racing motor bicycles. This article must have been written by some irresponsible person who had that ‘little knowledge which is a dangerous thing…’ ” George Brough

An image of an actor playing Lawrence from Speed Wobble Films, makers of a fascinating documentary about, T. E. Lawrence. (I just like the photograph)

T. E. Lawrence loved his Brough Superior SS100 motorcycles more than anything else he possessed. It was his means of escape, of disappearing. It was also to be at the centre of the controversy surrounding his death, of which I have previously written:

When the forty-seven-year-old T. E. Lawrence died at Bovington Military Hospital on May 19th, 1935, many secrets died with him, not least a convincing explanation of his motorcycle ‘accident’ six days earlier on the road between Bovington Army Camp and his cottage, ‘Clouds Hill’.

Corporal Ernest Catchpole, of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, based at Bovington, had been out walking his dog when he witnessed the crash and, when giving evidence at the inquest, stated that he had seen a black car travelling in the opposite direction to Lawrence moments before the crash.”

Catchpole’s evidence was that:

“The motorcycle passed the car all right. Then I saw the motorcycle swerve across the road to avoid two pedal cyclists coming from Bovington. It…