T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 278

To Major General A. P. Wavell. 33B171 A/C Shaw 31. 3. 29 R.A.F. Catterick Plymouth. aar Wavell I wonder if you are still on the Plain : your tour of duty with that armoured unit must be nearly over, or quite over. Perhaps this note will be sent on. Many people noticed my rather noisy (and unnecessary) return from India. The Indian Government put it in the papers, to try & win grace in the eyes of Amanullah and the Soviets. I don't think they won it! Hope not. Now they have ... me here. We live on a spine of rocks, almost at sea-level, jutting out across Ply- mouth Sound. It should be a dream of a summer station. For the moment they employ me at clerking in the orderly room, which is short-handed through the holiday season: afterwards, the rumour is of something to do with motor- boats. Ordinary seaman, I suppose : or is it deck hand? Week-ends are after duty Saturday till midnight Sun- day - not a generous allowance - but I have still an ex- cellent motor cycle, a very excellent motor cycle, and could reach the plain some Sunday midday, if you were still there and available. But in the hot weather (if any) please ... Sine February 2, when I landed, I have shivered and shrivelle... The last two days were not so bad : but today it's winter again. That's the great snag about England. Yours L.T.E.Shaw If you reply, do tell me your decorations. Your name looks naked on my envelope.