Steel Chariots in the Desert

Lawrence’s personal driver in the desert “our strongest & most resourceful man, the ready mechanic who largely kept our cars in running order”, Rolls was a pre-war motor mechanic who enlisted into the Armoured Car Brigade of the Royal Naval Air Service in 1914. After a short sojourn in Flanders this book follows his many adventures combating the Senussi Uprising in North Africa, rescuing captured British Sailors and fighting in support of Lawrence's Arab irregulars battling against the Turkish army in the Middle East. All this accomplished from behind the steering wheel of his Rolls Royce Armoured Car.

Of particular interest is the authors  association with T E Lawrence, known affectionately by Rolls as the 'Skipper'. His description of their first meeting shows how he was captivated from the start by the inspirational aura surrounding this enigmatic Englishman who is so inextricably linked to the Imperial Army's Desert Campaign and the Arab Revolt against the Turks. As well as Lawrence, we are also introduced to several of the other important figures of the Middle East campaign such as Faisal, Allenby, Nuri Bey and Auda of the Howeitat.