by James Srodes
That morning I was filling my petrol tank at the garage, when a large Brough Superior motorcycle roared up and I saw, without him seeing me, that it was Lawrence. I knew he hated recognition, and made none, but I heard him ask the pump attendant who I was and my name was given. Then Lawrence, a small man, came up and spoke in the strange way he had of using soldierly language, very soldierly. He asked me if I had written a recent book on Palestine which I had dedicated to Sarah Aaronsohn. I was very flattered to think he had read my work and said so. The conversation went like this (without hoping to be verbatim):
L: So you know who I am?
Me: I do. Col. Lawrence, of course.
L: Shaw’s my name and I’m no ____ colonel.
Me: I beg your pardon, I’m afraid you will always be Lawrence in my mind. I apologize for saying so aloud.
L: Did you know Sarah Aaronsohn while she was alive?
Me: I’m very sorry that I did not. I’d have given my right arm to have done so.
L: Why?
Me: Good Lord, man, if there was a Joan of Arc in our days, it was Sarah!
L: Strange we two men should be here in this little town, both of us with a book dedicated to her, without either of us having seen her alive.
Me: Why, judging by that sonnet of yours I was sure she and you were partners in the old days.
L: We were—but without meeting.
Later in the conversation, Lawrence added, “If she had a man for a husband, she might have been the leader of a Hebrew return with glory. It must have been hell to be married to her when one was unable to appreciate her.”
Three months later, on a rural lane near his cottage at Clouds Hill, Lawrence was struck by a black sedan that zx0 said had four men as passengers. The car never stopped. Lawrence died a day later without regaining consciousness, and the speculation that he was murdered lingers to this day.
NOTES
Prologue
Alexander Aaronsohn, Sarah, The Flame of NILI (unpublished manuscript provided by the Beit Aaronsohn–NILI Museum, Zichron Ya’akov, Israel).
Anita Engle, The NILI Spies (London: Frank Cass Publishers, 1959), 208–229.
Shmuel Katz, The Aaronsohn Saga (Jerusalem: Green Publishing House, 2000), 263–276.
Ida Cowen and Irene Gunther, A Spy for Freedom (New York: Lodestar Books, 1984), 141–154.
Hillel Halkin, A Strange Death (New York: Public Affairs, 2005), 172–187.
Chapter One: Who Was Sarah Aaronsohn?
Patricia Goldstone, Aaronsohn’s Maps (New York: Harcourt, 2007), 12–39.
Ronald Florence, Lawrence and Aaronsohn: T.E. Lawrence, Aaron Aaronsohn, and the Seeds of the Arab–Israeli Conflict (New York: Penguin, 2007), 30–52.
Chapter Two: Friends in America
Katz, 13–19.
David Fairchild, The World Was My Garden: Travels of a Plant Explorer (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1938), 47–62.
Engle, 28–29.
Chapter Three: The Three Pashas
Richard C. Hall, The Balkan Wars 1912–1913: Prelude to the First World War (London: Routledge, 2000), 1–24.
Eugene Rogan, The Fall of the Ottomans: The Great War in the Middle East (New York: Basic Books, 2015), 1–28.
Edmond Taylor, The Fall of the Dynasties: The Collapse of the Old Order, 1905–1922 (New York: Doubleday, 1962), 97–122.
Daniel Yergin, The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991), 173–181.
Chapter Four: Love and War
Engle, 32–39.
Katz, 75–90.
Cowen and Gunther, 17–32.
James Srodes, On Dupont Circle: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and the Progressives Who Shaped Our World (Berkeley, CA: Counterpoint, 2013), 17–49.
Chapter Five: Plagues of War and Locusts
Goldstone, 106–107, 112–113.
Katz, 152–185.
Walter Gribbon, Brigadier, Agents of Empire: Anglo–Zionist Intelligence Operations 1915–1919 (London: Brassey’s, 1995), 89–100.
Aaronsohn, 22–40.
Alexander Aaronsohn, With the Turks in Palestine (New York: Houghton, Mifflin, 1916), 49–69.
Cohen and Gunther, 35–41.
Ibid., 44.
Katz, 48–61.
Gribbon, 93–124.
British National Archives Foreign Office and War Office files, FO371, FO157.
Goldstone, 91–101.
Chapter Six: Success and Setback
Katz, 101–132.
Cohen and Gunther, 33–65.
Aaronsohn, Sarah, the Flame of NILI, 27–29, 33–42.
Engle, 51–76.
Gribbon, translations from Aaron Aaronsohn’s diaries, 223–306.
Chapter Seven: Sarah Takes Command
Gribbon, 122–173.
British National Archives War Office Files, WO 157/689.
Imperial War Museum File, Box 69/48/3; Box 69/48/4; Box 6 File39/4. See also, FO 371/471, FO 371/3057/3058.
Katz, 5–9.
Anthony Sattin, The Young T.E. Lawrence (New York: Norton, 2014), 133–157.
Cohen and Gunther, 2; 75–79.
Aaronsohn, Sarah, the Flame of NILI, 23.
Sarah Aaronsohn, translation, Beit Aaronsohn Archives. Also, Goldstone, 228.
Ibid.
Chapter Eight: Sarah Gets Her Orders and NILI Gets Its Name
Gribbon, quotes from Aaron Aaronsohn’s diaries, 226–239. Copies of the diaries, which he wrote in French, are housed both at the British National Archives and at the Beit Aaronsohn–NILI Museum. Aaron’s disdain for Lawrence only intensified with time. On August 12, 1917 he recorded, “I had a chat with Capt. Lawrence this morning. Our interview was devoid of amenity. He has been too successful at an early age—and is infatuated with himself. He gave me a lesson on our colonies—the mentality of the people—the feelings of the Arabs, etc., etc. As I was listening to him I could almost imagine that I was attending a conference by a scientific, anti-Semitic Prussian speaking English. . . . One would gather from the above interview that nothing can be done in Judea and Samaria where Faisal will never gain access. . . . But Lawrence will conduct his investigation by his own methods in order to learn of the mentality of the Jews (there). . . . If they are in favor of the Arabs they shall be spared, otherwise they shall have their throats cut. He is still at the age where people do not doubt themselves—happy young man! He is plainly hostile to us. He must be of a missionary breed.” Gribbon, 289.
Katz, 225–240.
Florence, 264–267.
Goldstone, 154–163.
Katz, 116.
Chapter Nine: Sarah and NILI Make a Difference
Goldstone, 170.
Katz, 272–273, quoting testimony from Dr. Hillel Yaffe and Rivka Lishansky.
Ibid., 234. The letter is in the Beit Aaronsohn–NILI Museum, Zichron Ya’akov, Israel.
Chapter Ten: The Net Closes
Gribbon, 310–311. In an appendix, Gribbon provides the EMSIB list of the “A Organization” members naming twenty-three “active” members who “were actually doing the work, traveling about the country, collecting data, meeting the trawlers, etc.” Also named are twelve other “passive” members and two others, Liova Schneersohn and Raphael Aboulafia, who sailed on the Managem during its twice-monthly visits to Athlit during 1917. Schneersohn was the courier who went ashore each time, while Aboulafia translated the intelligence documents from Hebrew to English on the return voyages so they would be immediately put to use when they reached Port Said.
Katz, 225–240.
Florence, 264–267.
Goldstone, 154–163.
Katz, 116.
Ibid., 227.
Ibid., 228.
Aaron Aaronsohn, Diaries, August 12, 1917. Quoted in Gribbon, 288–289.
British National Archives, Box 23G, FO141/803 EMSIB briefing on Beirut minefields and troop movements, “. . . the best we have received this year.” Also, Monthly Intelligence Summaries and War Di
ary briefings: WO157/715/18, WO157/713, and WO159/718, reference to “Our Syrian Organization.” Translated by Sophie Crochet.
Epilogue: Myth versus History
Maarten Schild, T.E. Lawrence, Before and After Arabia (www.maartenschild.com).
Richard Meinertzhagen, Lt. Col., Middle East Diary (London: Cresset Press, 1959), 43–46. Also, Katz, 339.
Duff’s anecdote has been widely reprinted but with conflicting interpretations. For example, two Israeli historians agree that Lawrence probably did not have a physical romance with Sarah but disagree whether his poem is dedicated to her. Yigal Sheffy, in a note in the British Intelligence and Security Journal, Vol. 4, 1990 cites it as evidence that Lawrence had loved her. Anita Engle, in her earlier book, The NILI Spies, argues to the contrary. No one, however, disputes Duff’s recollection of the conversation. See also Imperial War Museum files on Lawrence Box 6, file 6/384D Lawrence’s poem as edited by Robert Graves. File 6/389D, a fifteen-page account of the identity of Sarah in the poem by Somerset de Chair.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Imust mention with special gratitude those who were a great help along the way. Daniel C.W. Wilson, a talented British historian, proved an indefatigable and enthusiastic researcher at the various military and intelligence files at the British National Archives at Kew, at the Imperial War Museum in London and elsewhere. Dr. Marion Freudenthal, the archivist at the Beit Aaronsohn–NILI Museum in Zichron Ya’akov, Israel was extremely generous in providing documents and photographs that were essential to Sarah’s story. Sophie Crochet of Swarthmore College put her bilingual skills to good use translating the correspondence between Sarah’s brother Aaron Aaronsohn and Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann, which was in an arcane formal French. Eddie Friedmann was a wise guide to the culture of Zichron Ya’akov. Ronald Goldfarb, my literary adviser and friend, was a fount of insight and encouragement. Charlie Winton and the rest of the Counterpoint Press staff, as before, have been supportive at every step.
And for more decades that I care to count, my greatest gratitude and greater love belong to Cecile Srodes, the best copy editor, wife, and friend an undeserving man could wish for.
INDEX
Page references for illustrations appear in bold type
A
Aaronsohn, Aaron, xvi, 4, 11, 14, 15, 17, 17–24, 27–29, 36, 39, 40, 42–43, 44, 47–52, 53, 54–55, 56, 57, 57, 68, 69, 70–75, 81, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92–94, 95–99, 106–110, 112–119, 121, 122, 124–128, 129, 130–133, 136–137, 139, 141, 142, 144, 145–150, 153–154, 155, 157–161, 164, 165–168, 175, 180, 181
Aaronsohn, Alexander, xx, 11, 14, 15, 48–52, 54–55, 57, 57, 67, 68, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75–76, 78, 81–82, 85–86, 88, 92, 96, 100, 106, 117, 127, 161, 166, 169, 180, 181
With the Turks in Palestine, 82
Aaronsohn, Ephraim, xv, xvi, xvii, xviii, xix–xxii, 2–3, 4, 9, 10–11, 13, 42, 43, 57, 57, 129, 130–131, 152, 161, 171–172, 175, 180, 182
Aaronsohn, Malkah, xx, 2, 3, 11, 40
Aaronsohn, Rivka, 11, 14, 15, 40, 42, 45, 55, 55, 56, 57, 57, 58, 61, 74, 75–76, 81, 82, 85–86, 92, 100–101, 106, 132–133, 165, 181–182
Aaronsohn, Sarah, xvi, xvii–xxii, 1, 11–12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 36, 39–42, 43, 44, 44, 45, 47, 55, 56–62, 57, 59, 82–83, 85, 89–90, 92–93, 95, 98, 99–103, 105, 105–110, 118–119, 121, 122–125, 128–130, 131–133, 135, 136–139, 144, 145, 146–153, 155–157, 159–164, 167–177, 179, 179–184, 185–186
Aaronsohn, Shmuel, 11, 14, 57, 106, 166, 181
Aaronsohn, Zvi, xvii–xviii, xix, 4, 11, 14, 106, 129, 147–148, 152, 160–161, 168, 170, 172, 175, 180, 181
Abdul Aziz, Sultan of Turkey, 6
Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of Turkey, 6, 7–8, 9, 33, 34–35
Abraham, Chaim, 47, 56–59, 57, 59, 82–83, 100
Alexander II, Tsar of Russia, 3, 7
Alexander III, Tsar of Russia, 3
Allenby, Edmund Henry Hynman, xxii, 153–154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 162, 163, 167, 177, 179–180, 184
American Progressives, 49, 50, 69, 112
American Zionists, See Zionists
anti-Semitism, 67, 113, 115
ANZACs, 79, 128, 141, 158
A Organization, See NILI
Arab Bureau, 76, 77, 78, 89, 121–122, 124, 125, 126, 128, 142, 143, 158
Arabists, See Arab Bureau
Arab Revolt, 113, 127, 136, 142, 153, 157
Arabs, xiv, xvii, xxi, 2, 10, 11, 13, 15, 22, 23, 29, 31, 33, 38, 39, 41, 52, 53, 54, 55, 64, 65, 66–67, 73, 74, 78, 107, 112, 122, 123, 127, 130, 136, 142, 143, 185
Armenians, xxi, 8, 65, 73, 82, 83, 93, 161, 171, 173, 182
Asquith, Herbert, 72, 79, 87, 95, 110
Ataturk, Kemal, 182
Atlantic Monthly, 49
B
Balfour, Arthur, 112, 114, 116
Balkan Wars, 35, 37, 60
Baruch, Bernard, 69
bastinado, xxi
Bedouins, xxii, 19, 36, 39, 44, 53, 89, 90, 114, 124, 125, 141, 148, 149
Beit Aaronsohn–NILI Museum, 182, 186
Bek, Aziz, xix, xxi, 60, 67, 101, 152, 157, 163, 164, 168, 173, 182
Belkind, Naaman, 41, 91, 93, 98, 99, 106, 129, 138, 145, 147, 152, 161, 167–169, 176, 177
Bell, Gertrude, 77–78, 86, 122–124, 143, 155
Ben-Gurion, David, 65
Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ (Wallace), 9
Bernhardt, Olga, 108–109
Bey, Hassan, 171, 172–173
Bey, Osman, 171–172, 173
Bonney, William (Billy the Kid), 9
Borglum, Gutzon, 51
Mount Rushmore, 51
Brandeis, Louis, 27
Britain, xiv, xv, xvi, xvii, xx, xxii, 6, 8, 26, 32, 37, 50, 52, 63–64, 66, 67, 72–73, 75, 76–81, 82, 86–89, 92, 93, 95–99, 102, 108, 109–119, 122–129, 130, 131, 135–136, 138, 139, 140–145, 146, 148–149, 150, 151–152, 153–154, 155, 157–159, 160, 161–165, 166–167, 169, 177, 179–181, 183, 184, 185
ANZACs, 79, 128, 141, 158
Arab Bureau, 76, 77, 78, 89, 121–122, 124, 125, 126, 128, 142, 143, 158
Eastern Mediterranean Special Intelligence Bureau (EMSIB), 128–129, 142, 145, 146, 164
Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), 140–141
Gallipoli, 76, 78, 79–81, 80, 86, 95, 110, 113, 123, 149
Scotland Yard, 109–110
Bullitt, William, 51
C
Cairo, Egypt, xvi, xvii, 1, 72, 75–77, 79, 81, 82, 85–87, 95, 96, 102, 107–108, 112, 113, 115, 116–119, 121, 123, 124–125, 127, 128, 129, 136, 137, 139, 142, 142, 143, 144, 146, 147–148, 150, 151, 153, 155, 155, 156, 157, 159–160, 164, 166, 167, 168–169
Cazalet, Edward, 9
Chapman, Thomas, 25
Christians, 4, 11, 22, 36, 68, 82
Churchill, Winston, 63–64, 78, 79
Clayton, Gilbert, 117, 122, 124, 128, 139, 142, 153
Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), 34, 36, 37
Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey), 32, 34, 35–36, 38, 56, 57, 58–61, 65, 82, 90, 93, 97, 107, 108
Croly, Herbert, 51
CUP, See Committee of Union and Progress (CUP)
D
Daily Mail, 82
Days of Repentance, xiv
Deedes, Wyndham, 124, 125, 126, 128, 144, 166, 180
Desert Queen, See Bell, Gertrude
Disraeli, Benjamin, 8
Djamal, Ahmed Gamal (Djamal Pasha), xx–xxi, 31, 37–38, 60, 65–67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73–74, 76, 78, 90, 91, 92–93, 95, 96, 97, 101, 106, 109, 127, 139–140, 144–145, 157, 161, 165, 176, 180, 182
Duff, Douglas, 185, 188
Dulles, Allen, 50, 51
Dulles, John Foster, 50, 51
E
Eastern Mediterranean Special Intelligence Bureau (EMSIB), 128, 136, 142, 145, 146, 164
Edmonds, William Stanley, 118, 119, 125, 126, 150, 158–159
EEF, See Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF)
Egypt, xv, xvii, xxii, 1, 32, 37, 64, 66,
73, 75–76, 81, 85, 86, 89, 107, 108, 111, 112, 113, 115, 117–118, 121, 123, 125, 126, 130, See also Cairo, Egypt
Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), 140–141
Egyptian Gazette, 76
EMSIB, See Eastern
Mediterranean Special
Intelligence Bureau (EMSIB)
Enver, Ismail (Enver Pasha), 36, 37, 65, 66, 69, 91, 97, 182
Eretz Israel, 2, 4, 10, 11, 23, 27, 73, 93, 102, 177, 186
F
Fairchild, David, 22, 24, 27, 48–49, 53, 68, 69, 98
Faisal, Prince of Egypt, 123, 126, 127, 144
Farid, Abu, 106, 137
Feast of Booths, See Sukkot
Feinberg, Absalom, 40, 41–45, 44, 54, 55, 56, 58, 61, 67, 70, 73, 74, 82, 85, 85–103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 118, 119, 125, 127–128, 129, 130, 131–132, 138, 147, 148, 149, 152, 161, 168
First Aliyah, 4, 9, 10, 22
First Battle of Gaza, 129
Flame of Israel, See Aaronsohn, Sarah
Fourteen Points manifesto, 52
France, 9, 20, 41, 63, 64, 66, 67, 81, 87, 110, 111, 115, 140, 154, 163, 165, 180
Frankfurter, Felix, 27, 50, 51, 52, 81
Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria-Hungary, 7
G
Gallipoli, 76, 78, 79–81, 80, 86, 95, 110, 113, 123, 149
Gaza, xxii, 15, 112, 114, 122, 138, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 150–151, 153, 155, 157, 158, 165
genocide, See Armenians; Turkey
Georges-Picot, François, 115
George V, King of England, 102
Germany, xv, 9, 34, 37, 50, 60, 65, 67, 68, 69, 77, 81, 87, 91, 92–93, 97–98, 107, 137, 140, 146, 153, 160, 161, 165, 177, 179
Gideonites, 54–55, 72, 73, 74, 75, 86, 87–88, 90, 92, 106, 129, 131, 146, 147, 156
Gribbon, Walter, 112–113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 143, 144, 148, 184
H
Hall, Reginald, 98, 99, 110
Halukka, 5
Hapsburgs, 3
Ha-Shomer, 54, 74, 146, 147, 160–161, 162, 176, 180
Herzl, Theodor, 11, 52