January 1916

Russia begins to advance on the Caucasus front. Lawrence sends information about disaffected Arab officers in the Turkish forces defending Erzerum, and by doing so may have played a small part in the fall of the city.

March 18

Lawrence is awarded the French Légion d'Honneur for his work in the Cairo Intelligence office.

March 20-May 26

Lawrence and Aubrey Herbert are sent on a secret British mission to the Turkish Headquarters outside Kut in Mesopotamia, in an attempt to buy the release of Townshend's army. However, no attempt to save the beleaguered force succeeds, and Townshend is forced to surrender. Lawrence's secondary purpose during this journey to Iraq is to assess the potential for an Arab rebellion there.

June 5

Sherif Hussein of Mecca starts the Arab Revolt.

June 6

Lawrence produces the first 'Arab Bureau Summary', soon to be renamed the Arab Bulletin.

June 13

General Sir Archibald Murray, the British commander in Egypt, requests topographical information about Akaba, with a view to a possible landing there. Lawrence rejects the scheme outright, arguing that the operation would be extremely costly. The real objective of such an attack would be the route inland from Akaba to Maan, but the mountain passes provide the Turks with exceptionally strong defensive positions.

July 1916

Lawrence proposes a set of postage stamps as a propaganda vehicle for Hussein's new Arab Government in the Hedjaz. The first stamps, designed along lines suggested by Lawrence and Storrs, go into use in October.

October 12-November 11

Lawrence, while nominally on leave, performs his first Intelligence mission to the Hejaz on behalf of the Arab Bureau. He meets Sherif Hussein's four sons, Ali, Feisal, Abdullah, and Zeid, and concludes that Feisal is the most likely to succeed as a rebel leader in the field.

November 25 1916 - February 1917

Lawrence returns to the Hejaz as temporary liaison officer with the force commanded by Feisal.