By B. V. Darbishire, 1914

Lawrence took a considerable interest in the work carried out in Sinai by the military survey party under Captain Stewart Newcombe. His studies of medieval campaigns had taught him the importance of geography in warfare. From Newcombe, a military surveyor, he learned to observe the landscape in a much more disciplined manner. This experience was to qualify Lawrence for work in the Geographical Section of the War Office some months later, and would also prove invaluable during the desert campaigns.

During the latter part of the expedition the surveyors worked in different areas, and Lawrence accompanied Newcombe's party down to Akaba. In this way he was able to travel over a region which would become very important during the Arab Revolt. In particular, he saw for himself the approaches to Akaba from the east, and realised that it would be very difficult indeed for a force landing there to advance up the Wadi Itm towards Maan. This conclusion was by no means evident from the maps then available, and Lawrence's memoranda on the subject written from the Cairo Intelligence Department in 1915 and 1916 were to save the British the costly mistake of landing there in force.

This map shows the area covered by the Sinai Survey. It was drawn for publication in the archaeological report on the survey (see no. 79) and is based on the larger-scale map drawn by the War Office from data provided by Newcombe's survey (see no. 77)

Pen and ink, 57.3 x 42.5