Edith Cavell |
“I realise
that patriotism is not enough. I must
have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.”
Edith Cavell
was born in 1865 in Norwich, England.
Her father was a Vicar and she had been brought up with strong Anglican
beliefs.
After she finished school, Edith
went to work as a governess in a house in Brussels. She later returned to England and trained as
a nurse at the London Hospital between 1900 and 1905. In 1907, she was made Matron of the newly
established nursing school and became a pioneer of modern nursing in Britain.
“I can’t
stop while there are lives to be saved.”
After the outbreak of World War One,
Edith Cavell returned to Brussels, where she went above and beyond the call of
duty. Along with several others, she
managed to help over two hundred allied wounded soldiers to escape from German
occupied Belgium. They hid them, gave
them false papers and helped them to escape over the border and into
Britain. Unfortunately, it was the thank
you letters sent by these grateful soldiers that that helped to bring about her
conviction. The Germans were already
suspicious of her activities, largely due to her outspoken nature. She was then betrayed by a man who was later
charged by the French as being a collaborator.
In 1915, Edith Cavell was arrested
by the Germans. She was charged with
aiding the escape of allied soldiers into a country that was at war with
Germany. This was enough to convict her
of trying to cause harm to the German troops.
She was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death.
During the early hours of 12th
October 1915, Edith Cavell was executed by firing squad. Her body was buried immediately next to St.
Gilles Prison. After the war, she was
then flown back to England for a memorial service at Westminster Abbey. Edith’s final resting place is in her native
Norwich.
Edith Cavell was only one woman but
in the short life that she lived, she managed to show more humanity and
courage, than most people ever would.
“My soul, as
I believe, is safe, and I am glad to die for my country.”
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