LAWRENCE'S AIR FORCE

POSTSCRIPT

What became of the other players in this whole drama?

Emir Ibn Ali Hussein – was eventually ousted in 1924 from the Hejaz by Ibn Saud.

Emir Feisal – acclaimed King of Syria in 1918, but was exiled by the French in 1920.  Crowned King of Iraq in August 1921 and reigned to 1933, when he was succeeded by his son.

Major A.J. Ross – returned to Home Establishment and was killed on 2 August 1917 near Thetford while instructing a pupil in Maurice Farman Shorthorn A6825 of 12 Training Squadron RFC.

Captain F.W. Stent – awarded the Hejaz Order of Nahda (4th Class) in January 1921.  Stayed on in the RAF and retired as a Wing Commander in 1936.  Became a Test Pilot for Phillips and Powis Aircraft Ltd at Reading.  He was killed in the crash of Miles M.11c Whitney Straight G-AEYI on 28 June 1938 at Harefield in Berkshire.  He was buried at Hillingdon and Uxbridge Cemetery near London, aged 48.

Captain T. Henderson – awarded the MC and the Hejaz Order of Nahda (4th Class).  Stayed on in the RAF, but was invited to retire from the Service in 1927 owing to health problems.  He died on 21 July 1945 aged 50 at Tynemouth.

Lieutenant V.D. Siddons – awarded the Hejaz Order of Nahda (4th Class) in 1924.  In 1919, he took Holy Orders and became a Minister of the Methodist Church.  Gained a BA and, during WW2, joined the Royal Army Chaplains Department working with the 8th Army, for which he was awarded an MBE.  Died at the age of 75 in 1967.

Flying Officer W.G. Stafford – awarded the MC and then the Hejaz Order of Nahda (4th Class) in 1924.  He stayed on in the RAF, attached to the Marine and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham.  He left the Service in 1927 and as landlord, took a pub, the White Hart Inn at Nayland in Suffolk.  He died of peritonitis in 1928, aged 48 years.

FOOTNOTES

1. Capt V.D. Siddons – lecture notes for the RAF Staff College, 1926/7.
2. See article in C&C Journal, Vol 29 No3 p140 (1998) and footnote 3 on p142.
3. PRO files AIR 1/2383/226/16/1 to 5 – War Diary, 14 Sqn 'C' Flight.
4. The station was guarded by the Turkish 2nd Battalion of the 162nd Regiment.
5. Each 'dust-devil' or whirlwind bore hundreds of small stones which hammered the machines.
6. Described thus by George Lloyd, High Commissioner for Egypt.
7. See article 'Khaki and Blue', C&C Journal Vol 8 No 1 (1977).
8. See article 'Two-One-Six Squadron' Part 2, C&C Journal Vol 20 No 2 (1989).
9. 2Lt Carl Dixon was an American subject, who at 17 years of age, tried to join the USAS but was refused as being too young, so he travelled to Canada and managed to join the RFC/RAF.  He ended the war in 58 Sqn.
10. (Father of the infamous Kim Philby, the Third Man.) _My Silent War, Granada Publishing Ltd (1969) p 181.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I must thank fellow C&C member Roger Bragger for his very kind action in loaning me his entire extensive researches in the form of diaries, narratives, PRO records, documents, maps and photograph album etc, on the Arabian Detachment.  Roger has spent many years on this research and has amassed an enviable collection of medals associated with the participants.

Thanks also to Stuart Leslie for additional photographs, Nick Forder, and to Colin and Barbara Huston (C&C Pre-press), for their great help with production of the article and guiding me in the operation of my computer and scanner, both of which still baffle me!