S. F. Newcombe facts for kids

Stewart Francis Newcombe (1878–1956) was a British army officer who worked closely with T. E. Lawrence, also known as "Lawrence of Arabia."

Newcombe joined the Royal Engineers in 1898 and fought in the Second Boer War. He also served with the Egyptian army for ten years. Later, he did important mapping work in the Sinai Peninsula, where he met and became good friends with Lawrence.

During World War I, Newcombe led the British Military Mission in the Hejaz region. He worked with Lawrence again and was very important in the Arab Revolt. In 1917, Newcombe was captured by the Turkish army but managed to escape and hide in Istanbul.

Newcombe's name is part of the Paulet-Newcombe Agreement, which helped create many of the borders we see today between Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.

Early Life and Military Start

Stewart Francis Newcombe was born in Brecon, Wales. He went to Christ's Hospital and Felsted School. He then attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, where he was honored with the Sword of Honour.

In 1898, he became an officer in the Royal Engineers. He served in the Second Boer War and later with the Egyptian army from 1901 to 1911.

Mapping the Desert

In 1913 and 1914, Newcombe worked on an important mapping project. He surveyed the Sinai Peninsula all the way to Beersheba. He was joined by Leonard Woolley and T. E. Lawrence, who were archaeological experts.

This area, the Negev Desert, was very important for military reasons. Any army attacking Egypt would have to cross it. Newcombe's maps showed important features like water sources. This project started his long friendship and teamwork with Lawrence.

World War I Adventures

When Turkey joined World War I, Newcombe was sent to Egypt. He worked for Gilbert Clayton, who was in charge of military intelligence there. Other famous officers like George Lloyd and Lawrence also worked with him.

Newcombe fought at Gallipoli from September to December 1915. He was awarded the D.S.O. for his bravery. He helped rescue soldiers from a mine tunnel, even though he was affected by dangerous fumes.

At the end of 1916, Newcombe was sent to the Hejaz region. He became the chief of the British Military Mission working with the forces of the Sharif of Mecca. Here, he worked with Lawrence again and played a big part in the Arab Revolt.

After the capture of Wejh, Newcombe and his colleague Major Henry Hornby were key in destroying parts of the Hejaz Railway. This railway was vital for supplying the Turkish army in Medina. Lawrence once said that Newcombe was "like fire" because of his strong desire to destroy this important railway.

Newcombe was captured during the Third Battle of Gaza in November 1917. He was leading about seventy men of the Imperial Camel Corps behind enemy lines. Their mission was to cut the Hebron road to stop the Turkish army from escaping. After heavy fighting and running out of ammunition, his group had to surrender.

Newcombe was held as a prisoner in Turkey. He managed to escape from a prison camp in Brusa with the help of a French woman, Mlle Elizabeth Chaki. He then hid in Istanbul. He later escaped Turkey completely.

Family and Later Life

Newcombe married Elsie Chaki in London in April 1919. Their son, born in 1920, was named Stewart Lawrence. T. E. Lawrence became the boy's godfather, showing the strong friendship between the two men. Their daughter, Diana Louie, born in 1921, later became a Baroness. Newcombe retired from the army in 1932.

In 1935, Newcombe was one of the six people who carried Lawrence's coffin at his funeral.

In 1937, Newcombe tried to help start talks between the Zionist Movement and important Palestinian Arabs. The goal was to stop the fighting happening in Mandatory Palestine. However, these talks failed because the two sides could not agree on Jewish immigration to Palestine.