UAE adventurer leads 1,100km desert trek following in Lawrence of Arabia’s footsteps

Former servicemen endured extreme conditions to raise £500,000 for the Special Forces Club Benevolent Fund

Howard Leedham leads the expedition, with the group of retired British military personnel travelling from Saudi Arabia to Jordan. Photo: SFCBF's Nasir, Bekri, Tayi & Lawrence Tribute Trek

An adventurer in the UAE has led a team of novices on camels 1,100km across the vast dunes and volcanic terrain of the Arabian Desert in the footsteps of the brave men involved in the Arab Revolt.

The 1917 armed protests against the Ottoman Empire saw Arab rebel leaders, joined by British officer Capt TE Lawrence, who later became known as Lawrence of Arabia, make the epic trek to launch a surprise attack on the Turks to capture the city of Aqaba during the First World War.

The four retired British special forces servicemen have been replicating the inspiring journey made on camels by the Hashemite Sherif Nasir plus Nesib Al Bekri, Auda Abu Tayi of the Howeitat tribe and Lawrence, travelling from Al Wajh in Saudi Arabia to Aqaba in Jordan.

The riders and camels have been covering 50km a day and camping overnight in extreme temperatures to complete the mission in 25 days to raise funds for the Special Forces Club Benevolent Fund.

“It was 108 years ago that they undertook a journey that changed history. We have been retracing their steps now, paying homage to their courage and determination to honour their legacy and support a vital cause,” team leader Howard Leedham, who is a security adviser in the UAE, told The National.

“We chose their journey for our challenge as we wanted it to be an epic trek. We knew it was going to be tough and it has been. The terrain has been extremely harsh. Parts have been very difficult and there were areas which we were not able to access which added extra miles on to our journey and often it has meant not getting to our camp until after dark.

“The Hejaz Mountains were very tough, the terrain was harsh and in parts the camels struggled and we had to lead them on foot.”

Their journey began in Al Wajh passing through the Well of Dathna and Bada before ascending the Hejaz Mountains, skirting the vast Nafud Desert, and traversing Fajer and the Meegowa Oasis.

The riders then tackled Wadi Sirhan before crossing into Jordan to head to the Bayir Fort and Ma’an. From there, they descended through the Hejaz into Wadi Rum, concluding the journey at Aqaba Fort.

Known as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum, which is a valley cut into sheer-sided sandstone and granite rock towering 2,300 feet over the sandy wilderness, was described by Lawrence as “vast, echoing and God-like” – and his words still resonate today for the servicemen.

“We knew it was going to be incredibly tough. But it has been very awe-inspiring and beautiful,” Mr Leedham said.

“There were three to four parts in Jordan that were difficult. For the first three days we did not see any civilisation. The mountainous parts were challenging and we had to be careful the rocks didn’t cut the camels’ feet but we have tried to follow the original route as closely as possible.

“Every time we have come across iconic sites we knew they had visited it has been very poignant. It is surreal to think our camels have drunk from the same wells and we have crossed the same paths. The scenery and the desert changes every single day. It is absolutely stunning.”

Just a month ago three of the team members, Craig Ross, Martin Thomson and James Calder, had never ridden a camel before but under the supervision of Mr Leedham they were given a crash course in Saudi Arabia before starting out.

The former Royal Navy Clearance Diver learnt how to ride a camel in Dubai and had twice previously crossed the Empty Quarter desert on a camel and logged thousands of hours of endurance riding.

Similarly, Lawrence was chosen for the UK’s Middle East intelligence mission back in 1916 after completing a solo 6,000km trek through Ottoman Syria visiting Crusader castles.

“We were riding the camels up to 11 hours a day and to think these men had never ridden one before a month ago is an amazing feat,” Mr Leedham said. “We gave them nicknames due to their temperaments as they can bite and spit and be hostile but we have built up a trust with them. We had two camels each and we swapped them every day.”

During the Arab Revolt, Arab tribes, assisted by Lawrence, conducted a successful surprise attack on Aqaba after the British feared it could be used as a port for German U-boats during the war.

The desert journey was led by Sherif Nasir, while Lawrence was accompanied by tribal leaders Nesib Al Bekri and Auda Abu Tayi. Setting off with just 50 men they drew fighters from tribes along the way and amassed a 500-strong army.

Unlike today's team, on top of traversing the hostile terrain they also carried out guerrilla warfare destroying communications and railroads to cut supplies to Aqaba. Their mission was enshrined in history and made into a Hollywood film.

Lord Sedwill, president of the Special Forces Club, describes it as one of the first special forces missions and is hoping that the men replicating their legendary journey will raise £500,000 to help injured servicemen.

As Mr Leedham reflects on his time in Jordan’s desert wilderness, he cannot but help think of their achievement.

“It has been really tough camping and riding in extreme temperatures going from minus 3°C to 37°C in strong winds and rain,” he said. “But it was at the forefront of our minds that unlike Lawrence and his team we knew we would not run out of water and we had a safety net. We are lucky to have had modern equipment and it is hard to imagine what they must have endured.

“When we finished in Aqaba we met friends and family but when they did it they were going to fight a battle. They were very brave men and we hope not only that we raise vital funds for charity but that we also highlight the roles they all played in incredible circumstances.”