About Edith Cavell

Edith Cavell was born the daughter of the Rector of Swardeston, Norfolk, in 1865. She trained as a nurse at the London Hospital. Before the First World War she went to Belgium, where she became the first matron of the Berkendael Medical Institute in Brussels.

Following the German Army invasion of Belgium in 1914, Berkendael became a Red Cross Hospital, with German soldiers receiving the same attention as Belgians. Many of the captured Allied soldiers who were there managed to escape, with Edith Cavell's active assistance. She was arrested by the local German authorities and charged with having personally aided in the escape of some 200 soldiers.

Edith Cavell was kept in solitary confinement for ten weeks. She was told that her companions had confessed and perhaps naively, she signed a confession, which was to become the basis for her trial. She was tried by court-martial, found guilty and was sentenced to death. Her execution by firing squad on 12th October 1915 received worldwide press coverage.

In memory of Edith Cavell, the Trustees, in conjunction with Nurses of The Royal London Hospital, lay a wreath at her memorial statue in St Martins Square, London, nearest to the date of her execution in October.

A longer biography and more information on Edith Cavell can be found at www.edithcavell.org.uk

Edith Cavell was also featured in a book entitled Courage: Eight Portraits by Gordon Brown

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