Seven Pillars of Wisdom · Chapter
LXXVIII explained
Lawrence and the Arab force endure a miserable, cold night waiting to ambush a train near Minifir.
What happens
Lawrence and the Arab force endure a miserable, cold night waiting to ambush a train near Minifir. After initial failure and despair, they successfully destroy a two-engined train carrying the Turkish Eighth Army Corps commander, Jemal Pasha. Lawrence is injured in the explosion and subsequent firefight. The Arabs capture rifles and booty but are forced to retreat due to the large number of surviving Turkish troops. Fahad is severely wounded but rescued. The group eventually reaches Azrak, claiming victory.
Themes in this chapter
War and Guerrilla Tactics
The chapter details a classic guerrilla ambush on a train using an electric mine, followed by a swift retreat to avoid superior numbers, highlighting the hit-and-run strategy.
Suffering and Endurance
Lawrence and the Arabs endure extreme cold, hunger, illness, and injuries, yet continue the mission, reflecting the theme of endurance under hardship.
Honor and Deception
Lawrence uses sarcasm and tribal pride to motivate the Serahin, and later hides his own pain to maintain morale, blending deception with the code of honor.
Characters to notice
- T.E. Lawrence
Leads the ambush, is injured by the explosion and bullet grazes, struggles with cold and pain, and directs the retreat.
- Emir Feisal
Not directly present in this chapter; Ali ibn el Hussein is the Sherif on scene.
- Sherif Ali ibn el Hussein
Supports Lawrence, mediates tribal disputes, suffers from fever, and leads the rescue of Lawrence under fire.
- Sheikh Fahad el Hansha
Severely wounded in the face during the assault on the train; rescued by Adhub and Mifleh.
- Sheikh Mifleh
Initially despondent, then chases Turkish officers on his mare, helps rescue Fahad, and tends to the wounded.
- Turki
Fights bravely alongside Ali and Lawrence, receiving four bullet holes through his headcloth.
Key passages
“Mifleh was past tears, thinking I had intentionally let the train through; and when the Serahin had been told the real cause they said 'Bad luck is with us.'”
Mifleh was too upset to cry, believing I had deliberately allowed the train to pass; when the Serahin learned the true reason, they declared that misfortune was upon them.
Lawrence describes the initial despair and superstition among the Arab fighters after a failed attempt.
“I touched off under the first driving wheel of the first locomotive, and the explosion was terrific. The ground spouted blackly into my face, and I was sent spinning, to sit up with the shirt torn to my shoulder and the blood dripping from long, ragged scratches on my left arm.”
I detonated the mine beneath the first driving wheel of the lead locomotive, and the blast was immense. The earth erupted blackly into my face, spinning me around; I sat up with my shirt ripped to the shoulder and blood dripping from deep, jagged scratches on my left arm.
Lawrence vividly recounts the moment of the explosion and his immediate injuries.
“In it had been Mehmed Jemal Pasha, commanding the Eighth Army Corps, hurrying down to defend Jerusalem against Allenby.”
Inside that carriage was Mehmed Jemal Pasha, the commander of the Eighth Army Corps, rushing south to defend Jerusalem from Allenby's forces.
Lawrence identifies the high-value target that was aboard the train.