Lawrence of Arabia and the Invention of the Crash Helmet
T.E. Lawrence was a very famous and highly decorated British soldier who fought during WWI. His military career and life were captured in his own words and still read and studied today in the form of his writings. A film about his time in WWI was released in 1962 (Lawrence of Arabia), further cementing his place in the chronicles of history. But as decorated and beloved as he was, he was not immortal. He died from head injuries at the age of 46 after crashing his motorbike, a Brough Superior SS100.
His death was mourned by many, including the neurosurgeon who tended to him, Dr. Hugh Cairns. Cairns was so deeply affected by the loss of Lawrence, that he was inspired to research ways to protect motorcyclists’ heads in the event of a crash.