Ronald Bodley
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Ronald Victor Courtenay (R. V. C.) Bodley (March 1892– May 26, 1970) was a British army officer
, author and journalist. He is best known for his book, Wind in the Sahara.
and Sandhurst
, and served as an officer with the King's Royal Rifle Corps
during World War I
. He reached the rank of Colonel while in France, and was appointed assistant Military attaché
to Paris on August 15, 1918. As assistant military attaché Bodley attended the 1919 Paris Peace Conference
. What Bodley heard there reportedly made him feel like what he and millions of other soldiers had fought for was all for nothing. Dissillusioned with the military, Bodley considered a career in politics instead.
Bodley was the son of John Edward Courtenay Bodley
, a descendant of Sir Thomas Bodley
and was Gertrude Bell
's cousin.
. Bodley ran into Lawrence one day outside the Paris Peace Conference and told him of his intent to move into politics. Lawrence responded furiously, calling Bodley a moron and a traitor. When Bodley replied telling him he had no other prospects now that the war was over and asking what he should do, Lawrence suggested "Go live with the Arabs." Bodley promptly sorted his affairs and went to live in the Sahara
. His bemused friends held him a farewell party. They all agreed Bodley would be back in six weeks; Bodley did not return for seven years. Bodley spent his seven years living with Arabs in the Sahara desert. He lived with a nomad
tribe, purchasing a herd of sheep and goats and using them as a source of income. He wore Arab dress, spoke their tongue, practiced the Muslim
faith and even lived with an Arab girl for a time. Wind in the Sahara, first published in 1944, is about his experiences there. Bodley was considered amongst the most distinguished British writers on the Sahara.
Bodley also spent considerable time travelling around Japan and the South Pacific Mandate
s, and wrote about his experiences and findings in the book The Drama in the Pacific.
Bodley was thanked by the authors of the book, The Secret Lives of Lawrence of Arabia, for the information he provided.
by Ferdinand of Romania in 1920 and the Order of Wen-Hu
(4th Class) by the Republic of China
in 1921.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Ronald Victor Courtenay (R. V. C.) Bodley (March 1892– May 26, 1970) was a British army officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, author and journalist. He is best known for his book, Wind in the Sahara.
Biography
Bodley was born in Paris in March 1892. He was educated at Eton CollegeEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, and served as an officer with the King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He reached the rank of Colonel while in France, and was appointed assistant Military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
to Paris on August 15, 1918. As assistant military attaché Bodley attended the 1919 Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
. What Bodley heard there reportedly made him feel like what he and millions of other soldiers had fought for was all for nothing. Dissillusioned with the military, Bodley considered a career in politics instead.
Bodley was the son of John Edward Courtenay Bodley
John Edward Courtenay Bodley
John Edward Courtenay Bodley was an English civil servant, known for his writings on France.-Life:He studied at Balliol College, Oxford from 1873 to 1876. An active Freemason, he approached Oscar Wilde, then also an undergraduate, and introduced him to a Masonic Lodge in Oxford...
, a descendant of Sir Thomas Bodley
Thomas Bodley
Sir Thomas Bodley was an English diplomat and scholar, founder of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.-Biography:...
and was Gertrude Bell
Gertrude Bell
Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, CBE was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist who explored, mapped, and became highly influential to British imperial policy-making due to her extensive travels in Greater Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, and Arabia. Along...
's cousin.
Travels
Gertrude Bell introduced Bodley to T. E. LawrenceT. E. Lawrence
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, CB, DSO , known professionally as T. E. Lawrence, was a British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18...
. Bodley ran into Lawrence one day outside the Paris Peace Conference and told him of his intent to move into politics. Lawrence responded furiously, calling Bodley a moron and a traitor. When Bodley replied telling him he had no other prospects now that the war was over and asking what he should do, Lawrence suggested "Go live with the Arabs." Bodley promptly sorted his affairs and went to live in the Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
. His bemused friends held him a farewell party. They all agreed Bodley would be back in six weeks; Bodley did not return for seven years. Bodley spent his seven years living with Arabs in the Sahara desert. He lived with a nomad
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
tribe, purchasing a herd of sheep and goats and using them as a source of income. He wore Arab dress, spoke their tongue, practiced the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
faith and even lived with an Arab girl for a time. Wind in the Sahara, first published in 1944, is about his experiences there. Bodley was considered amongst the most distinguished British writers on the Sahara.
Bodley also spent considerable time travelling around Japan and the South Pacific Mandate
South Pacific Mandate
The was the Japanese League of Nations mandate consisting of several groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean which came under the administration of Japan after the defeat of the German Empire in World War I.-Early history:Under the terms of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, after the start of World...
s, and wrote about his experiences and findings in the book The Drama in the Pacific.
Bodley was thanked by the authors of the book, The Secret Lives of Lawrence of Arabia, for the information he provided.
Awards
Bodley was awarded the Order of Carol IOrder of Carol I
The Order of Carol I is a chivalric order of the Kingdom of Romania instituted on the 10 May 1909 by King Carol I of Romania to celebrate his jubilee of 40 years of reign. Until the fall of the monarchy in 1947, the order was the highest ranking order of the kingdom...
by Ferdinand of Romania in 1920 and the Order of Wen-Hu
Order of Wen-Hu
The Order of Wen-Hu was an award for military or naval service awarded by the Republic of China. It was issued in five classes. The badge showed a striped tiger in natural colours on a central medallion...
(4th Class) by the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
in 1921.