4. Charles Boutagy, a Christian Palestinian recalls his espionage work with T. E. Lawrence, during World War I.
He says, as a Christian, he never liked Turkey so went to Egypt to offer his services to the British Forces. He met Captain Clayton and was passed on to the Military Intelligence Office. He was appointed as a secret service agent to gather information from enemy territory, which at the time extended from Port Said to the Dardanelles. He appointed agents, landed them in Turkey to collect information, and collected them again.
He says Lawrence of Arabia was his boss and taught him how to start his spying career, including how blow up bridges, cut telephone poles and how to hide secret messages in the lining of a jacket. He says Lawrence had to approve plans he came up with and then he went to the intelligence officer at Port Said, Lieutenant C.L. Woolley, who would organise his transport on various allied warships. He names several battleships that he travelled on in that time.
Boutagy says T. E. Lawrence wanted to do his best for his king and country, and he never saw a more hard-working person. Lawrence did not take time off like the other officers, and even met Boutagy at the train station after 1am. He was utterly devoted.
At this time Lawrence was surveying Palestine, and knew very little of the Arabs until after the Revolt. He helped them as far as Damascus and lived amongst them in 1918.
He claims at the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919, Lawrence told British Prime Minister Lloyd George he would see the result of his follies in fifty years time.
He was the only British officer in history to request an interview with his king and hand back his medals. This was because he said Britain had made two promises - that the Arabs would have independence, but also that the Jews would have a national home in Palestine.
Recorded in 1969.