T.E Lawrence and Invention of Helmets
If you wear a helmet today, then you owe to this gentleman.
You may ask what connect both of them?
Who was T.E Lawrence ?
T.E. Lawrence was a British military officer who took part in the Great Arab Revolt and later wrote the memoir -The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
Born on August 16, 1888, in Wales, Thomas Edward Lawrence became an expert in Arab affairs as a junior archaeologist in Carchemish on the Euphrates River from 1911 to 1914, working for the British Museum on archaeological excavations. The versality of his activities and associations, and his ability to describe them vividly in writing, earned him international fame as Lawrence of Arabia.
Atleast 3 films are produced about him and the most popular one is
Lawrence of Arabia
The end of an Era
T.E bought one of the first SS100s in 1925 having previously owned three Brough SS80s.(Records says he owned total of 8 Brough’s in which one was yet to be delivered while his death). While driving his George VII (He had the habbit of naming his bikes as George and this motorcycle was 7th in the list) he met with an accident.The crash that would end Lawrence's life on a narrow road near his cottage near Wareham in 1935. The accident occurred because a dip in the road obstructed his view of two boys on bicycles. Swerving to avoid them, Lawrence lost control and was thrown over the handlebars.
There was no helmets at that time and he suffered serious head injuries that left him in a coma; he died after six days in hospital.
Motorcycle riding was in its infant stage and there was literally no thoughts on the safety of the rider.Hugh Cairns a Neurosurgeon attending T.E went on to do a long study on the head injuries and crash helmets.His research has lead to the introduction and popular use of Helmets.
If you wear a helmet today, then you owe to this gentleman.Today it save a lot lives on the road.
T.E Lawarance on his SS100 Brough-Note that there is no Helmets in the image.
A recent report on Motorcycle accidents : 98.6% of bikers who died didn’t wear a helmet.-
98.6% of bikers who died didn't wear a helmet - Times of India
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