January 1923

The RAF decides that the press publicity has made it impossible to retain 'Aircraftman Ross', and he is dismissed from the ranks. Lawrence, a civilian again, goes into hiding at a small hotel in Frensham, Surrey. His appeals to rejoin the ranks of the RAF are refused.

February 1923

Lawrence applies to join the Tank Corps as a private, hoping to transfer back to the RAF at a later date. On 23 February he is accepted, and takes a new pseudonym, T. E. Shaw.

March 1923

'Shaw' arrives at Bovington Camp for eighteen weeks' basic training. He quickly concludes that the army compares very badly to the RAF.

May 1923

Jonathan Cape asks Lawrence to translate Mardrus' Mille et une Nuits into English. Lawrence is enthusiastic, and also agrees to tackle a minor French novel by Adrien le Corbeau called Le Gigantesque. The Arabian Nights project comes to nothing, since Cape learns that another translation is already in progress; but work on the Gigantesque takes up much of Lawrence's free time during the summer. He begins to visit Thomas Hardy, who lives nearby.

September 1923

Lawrence finishes Le Gigantesque, published in Britain and America in 1924 as The Forest Giant.

October 1923

Lawrence takes possession of Clouds Hill, a cottage he rents [later purchases] near Bovington Camp. For many months it remains poorly furnished and in a state of semi-repair, but it provides him with a place where he can write, during his free time, without disturbance.

December 1923

On 9 December Lawrence meets his bank manager and two other friends at Oxford. It is decided that he will abridge and revise the 1922 text of Seven Pillars for a private subscription edition. About 100 copies will be issued, at a price of 30 guineas. Lawrence expects the task to take at least one year, and not more than two years. While he works on the text, his friends will find subscribers. D. G. Hogarth will help edit the proofs. Eric Kennington will supervise reproduction of the illustrations.