LAWRENCE THOMAS EDWARD (1888-1935) [LAWRENCE D’ARABIE].

  2. Result
  3. LAWRENCE THOMAS EDWARD (1888-1935) [LAWRENCE D’ARABIE].
  4. Lot n° 137 
Lot n° 137
Go to lot
Estimation :
3000 - 4000 EUR
LAWRENCE THOMAS EDWARD (1888-1935) [LAWRENCE D’ARABIE].
Signed autograph letter, signed using his pseudonym « TEShaw », 2 May 1930, [to Ernest THURTLE] ; 1 page and a half in-4 format (traces of folds); in English. Fine letter on the abolition of the death penalty for cowardice in the British Army. The British Labour MP Ernest THURTLE (1884-1954) was the author of Military Discipline and Democracy (1920) and Shootings at Dawn (1929). In 1924 he introduced a bill to abolish the death penalty in certain cases, and achieved his aim in 1930, a considerable personal triumph that did much to humanize military justice in Britain. He had led the successful parliamentary campaign for the abolition of the death penalty for cowardice in the British Army, and faced fierce resistance by such people as General Allenby and the House of Lords, although it was ultimately passed in the House of Commons. “When your letter came I said Nunc dimittis ... and the servant through whose faithfulness this great work had come about didn’t seem to matter. He had done his duty: that was all. Then the Lords gave me a fright. Lord Allenby too, whom I like and admire. Surely if I had been in London, able to see him, he would at least have kept silence - if not supported you. Yet doesn’t it make you surer you were right, to see all the General Staff opposing you? In the end you downed the Lords, as you had downed the Government. I feel it is a blessed victory. The old state of law hurt me. It was such a damnable judgement upon our own flesh and blood. There are 1000 other Service reforms which should be carried through, to make them abreast - in morality decency - of normal public life and opinion...”
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue