23. CITY OF OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS, SIXTH FORM
Photograph by T. E. Lawrence (1907)
This photograph was taken by Lawrence during his last summer at school. The
circumstances were subsequently explained by one of his classmates, T. O Balk (seen at the
left of the middle row): 'The photograph of the VIth form 1906-07 was taken in July 1907
on the small lawn in front of the school. Ned Lawrence was the prime mover in making the
record of a very pleasant year. He persuaded the Head to give his consent and also the
time needed to arrange the group and to photograph it. He used his own . . . camera fixed
on a tripod and was able to take the photograph himself by connecting the camera by means
of a length of rubber tubing to his cycle pump which he kept carefully out of sight as he
stood in the group . . . I always think when I look at the group, that the Head’s
expression reveals his considerable doubt of the likelihood of the success of T. E.'s
scheme.'1
That year Lawrence sat the Oxford Senior Locals. He was placed in the First Class, and
only twelve candidates received higher total marks. He did particularly well in English
(equal first) and Religious Knowledge (equal third). Despite this academic success
Lawrence would look back on his school years with distaste: 'In my case they were
miserable sweated years of unwilling work: and when after them I suddenly went to Oxford,
the new freedom felt like heaven. I don’t think men ever work as hard as boys are
made to work . . . nor do I think the miseries of grown-up feelings are as bad as those of
boys.'2
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photograph of Lawrence
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