Edith Cavell was born on December the 4th 1865. She was a daughter of a vicar from the small village of Swardeston (which lies four miles south of Norwich). Edith was a talented nurse and forever known for aiding Allied soldiers back to Britain despite the German's presence in Belgium. The start of Edith's nursing career started in the 1896 when her father became ill. At the time, Edith was the governess for a family in Brussels, but had to return home in order to care for her father. It's only by this experience that Edith realised that nursing was for her and spent the next few months working at the Fountain's Fever Hospital in Tooting. Edith was just testing the waters at this point. Though it was long before she understood her strengths. By the April of 1896, Edith was accepted for nursing training at the Royal London Hospital.
Without warning, that summer brought along a typhoid epidemic. It had broken out in Kent. Edith along with 5 other nurses were sent to assist with the outbreak. Only 132 people passed away despite the 1,700 people who had contracted the epidemic. On top of that, Edith was rewarded for her services with a medal.
Edith along with her passion for nursing would move several times after this point. At first, Edith became the night supervisor at St pancreas in 1899. St Pancreas was such a poor institution in the 1890's with a quarter of the patients dying regularly from a chronic condition. Whilst at the institute, Edith pioneered the first 'follow-up' home visit. She would stay here for four years before being made the assistant matron at Shoreditch institute.
In 1906, Edith worked at the Manchester and Salford's Sick, Poor and Private Institution as a nurse. However, it isn't long before the matron developed an illness and Edith had to take over the institution. She found the task exceptionally hard and wrote to her trainer for help. But then, Edith received a personal request from Dr Antoine Depage. It caused her to return to Belgium. Dr Depage was opening a pioneering department named 'L'Ecole Belge d'Infirmières Diplômèes' (The Belgian School of Nursing Graduates) and wanted Edith Cavell to run it. She accepted swiftly.
From this point, everything was going well. Edith had an effective training program going on in 1912 which produced qualified nurses. These nurses, after finishing, were then employed within 3 hospitals, 24 communal schools as well as 13 nurseries. In 1913, this training program gained even more status, all down to Queen Elizabeth of Belgium unfortunately braking her arm. It was one of Edith's personally trained nurse cared for her as the queen recuperated. This only boosted the popularity for Edith's nurses.
But then, the year became 1914... On June the 28th, the Austrian-Hungarian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in the capital of Bosnia - Sarajevo. This event started the political downfall which would lead to world war one.
On the same day, Edith was visiting her mother back in England. She overhears the news whilst attending to the garden and doesn't take long to make her decision. Quickly, Edith packs her bags to rush back the school. One of the last words to her mother was, 'I'm needed more than ever'...
...By the 1st of August, Edith had rushed back into Belgium. I feel like that move was so lucky and daring on Edith's part because within the same day Germany had allied with Austria-Hungary. Likewise Russia had allied with Serbia too. Her first decision at the school was to send the Dutch and German trainees home before gathering her nurses together. They would help the sick and wounded regardless of their nationality. It wasn't long before the school was taken over by the red cross. Edith stayed despite being British and therefore the 'enemy' by the Germans' mind.
Three days after, World War 1 started. But, it only took 16 days for the Belgium capital to be overrun. On the 20th of August, Brussels was occupied. Edith's school consequently flooded with injured soldiers from all nationalities. Being nurses they had no side. They just treated everyone equally regardless of the soliders' loyalty. Edith would later hear of soldiers getting trapped behind enemy lines. Most specifically, a Brit who had been shot by German officers.
In 1915, heartbreak struck Edith. The Lusitania was sank by a German U-boat on the 7th of May. On board was Madame Depage, the wife of Antoine Depage. She drown at sea. But, that wasn't the only bad news. Someone reports the underground group to the Germans. On the 31st of July, Philippe was arrested by German police. Letters which incriminated Edith were found. Without warning, she was arrested on the 5th August and taken straight into interrogation. Edith would be there for 72 hours. Only leaving and placed into solitary confinement when she was tricked into a confession. Guards would tell Edith that she can only save her friends by making a full confession to her part. Sadly, she believed this.
On the Spanish request, Edith was buried in a shallow grave only marked by a wooden cross. This execution would be one of the downfalls of German's war. There was an outcry afterwards. Edith became martyr. Her executers turned into murders. Double the men enlisted to the war because of her death leading to more manpower for the Allies.
On the 12th of October 1918 (1 month before the end of the war), a memorial was held in Edith Cavell's honour. Queen Alexandra unveiled the structure on Norwich cathedral's grounds.
But that wasn't the end of Edith's story. In May 1919, her body was unearthed from the spot where she was cover and a service was constructed. The King and Queen of Belgium was present for the ceremony before her body was moved to England. At Dover, a train would take her to Victoria Station. After which a grand ceremony commenced through the journey to Westminster Abby for her memorial service. Queen Alexandra was present along with other distinguished guests. Finally, Edith's body was then laid to rest in Norwich after the burial service at Norwich Cathedral. Forever her body now lies just east of Norwich Cathedral within the area named Life's Green.
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Without warning, that summer brought along a typhoid epidemic. It had broken out in Kent. Edith along with 5 other nurses were sent to assist with the outbreak. Only 132 people passed away despite the 1,700 people who had contracted the epidemic. On top of that, Edith was rewarded for her services with a medal.
Edith along with her passion for nursing would move several times after this point. At first, Edith became the night supervisor at St pancreas in 1899. St Pancreas was such a poor institution in the 1890's with a quarter of the patients dying regularly from a chronic condition. Whilst at the institute, Edith pioneered the first 'follow-up' home visit. She would stay here for four years before being made the assistant matron at Shoreditch institute.
In 1906, Edith worked at the Manchester and Salford's Sick, Poor and Private Institution as a nurse. However, it isn't long before the matron developed an illness and Edith had to take over the institution. She found the task exceptionally hard and wrote to her trainer for help. But then, Edith received a personal request from Dr Antoine Depage. It caused her to return to Belgium. Dr Depage was opening a pioneering department named 'L'Ecole Belge d'Infirmières Diplômèes' (The Belgian School of Nursing Graduates) and wanted Edith Cavell to run it. She accepted swiftly.
From this point, everything was going well. Edith had an effective training program going on in 1912 which produced qualified nurses. These nurses, after finishing, were then employed within 3 hospitals, 24 communal schools as well as 13 nurseries. In 1913, this training program gained even more status, all down to Queen Elizabeth of Belgium unfortunately braking her arm. It was one of Edith's personally trained nurse cared for her as the queen recuperated. This only boosted the popularity for Edith's nurses.
But then, the year became 1914... On June the 28th, the Austrian-Hungarian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in the capital of Bosnia - Sarajevo. This event started the political downfall which would lead to world war one.
On the same day, Edith was visiting her mother back in England. She overhears the news whilst attending to the garden and doesn't take long to make her decision. Quickly, Edith packs her bags to rush back the school. One of the last words to her mother was, 'I'm needed more than ever'...
...By the 1st of August, Edith had rushed back into Belgium. I feel like that move was so lucky and daring on Edith's part because within the same day Germany had allied with Austria-Hungary. Likewise Russia had allied with Serbia too. Her first decision at the school was to send the Dutch and German trainees home before gathering her nurses together. They would help the sick and wounded regardless of their nationality. It wasn't long before the school was taken over by the red cross. Edith stayed despite being British and therefore the 'enemy' by the Germans' mind.
Three days after, World War 1 started. But, it only took 16 days for the Belgium capital to be overrun. On the 20th of August, Brussels was occupied. Edith's school consequently flooded with injured soldiers from all nationalities. Being nurses they had no side. They just treated everyone equally regardless of the soliders' loyalty. Edith would later hear of soldiers getting trapped behind enemy lines. Most specifically, a Brit who had been shot by German officers.
By September, Edith was hiding 2 Allied solider herself. She had them disguised as labourers knowing it would be certain deaths for them if found. They sheltered for 2 weeks before they headed to the border. Sadly, only one made it back to Holland.
An underground group showed themselves to her not long after hearing of her good deed. Edith was asked to assist them to hide others who were trapped and she accepted regardless of the dangers. Though Edith would never tell her other nurses. Over the year, the secret organisation along with Edith's help had rescued over 200 men. She had help of an architect called Philippe Bauca, who would organise the guides to the Holland border.
An underground group showed themselves to her not long after hearing of her good deed. Edith was asked to assist them to hide others who were trapped and she accepted regardless of the dangers. Though Edith would never tell her other nurses. Over the year, the secret organisation along with Edith's help had rescued over 200 men. She had help of an architect called Philippe Bauca, who would organise the guides to the Holland border.
In 1915, heartbreak struck Edith. The Lusitania was sank by a German U-boat on the 7th of May. On board was Madame Depage, the wife of Antoine Depage. She drown at sea. But, that wasn't the only bad news. Someone reports the underground group to the Germans. On the 31st of July, Philippe was arrested by German police. Letters which incriminated Edith were found. Without warning, she was arrested on the 5th August and taken straight into interrogation. Edith would be there for 72 hours. Only leaving and placed into solitary confinement when she was tricked into a confession. Guards would tell Edith that she can only save her friends by making a full confession to her part. Sadly, she believed this.
Her trial was held on the 7th of October where Edith freely confesses to the smuggling of enemy soliders. 4 days later came the verdict. Both Edith and Philippe was found guilty of treason by the German prosecution. The worst sentence was past, they will be put to death by the firing squad.
Hearing of the news, neutral countries such as America and Spain hurried have their sentences lower. Even the German foreign office wanted Edith pardoned - she had nursed some of their own men. But, all the attempts were not successful. A German Commander let it known that he would rather had this women shot then see harm come to his soliders. So the decision was final. On October the 12th, Edith along with Philippe was lead to the place of execution...
The night before Edith had said these words to her last visitor, English Captain Stirling Gahan;
… Standing as I do in view of God and Eternity, I realise that patriotism is not enough, I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone...
Hearing of the news, neutral countries such as America and Spain hurried have their sentences lower. Even the German foreign office wanted Edith pardoned - she had nursed some of their own men. But, all the attempts were not successful. A German Commander let it known that he would rather had this women shot then see harm come to his soliders. So the decision was final. On October the 12th, Edith along with Philippe was lead to the place of execution...
The night before Edith had said these words to her last visitor, English Captain Stirling Gahan;
… Standing as I do in view of God and Eternity, I realise that patriotism is not enough, I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone...
On the Spanish request, Edith was buried in a shallow grave only marked by a wooden cross. This execution would be one of the downfalls of German's war. There was an outcry afterwards. Edith became martyr. Her executers turned into murders. Double the men enlisted to the war because of her death leading to more manpower for the Allies.
On the 12th of October 1918 (1 month before the end of the war), a memorial was held in Edith Cavell's honour. Queen Alexandra unveiled the structure on Norwich cathedral's grounds.
But that wasn't the end of Edith's story. In May 1919, her body was unearthed from the spot where she was cover and a service was constructed. The King and Queen of Belgium was present for the ceremony before her body was moved to England. At Dover, a train would take her to Victoria Station. After which a grand ceremony commenced through the journey to Westminster Abby for her memorial service. Queen Alexandra was present along with other distinguished guests. Finally, Edith's body was then laid to rest in Norwich after the burial service at Norwich Cathedral. Forever her body now lies just east of Norwich Cathedral within the area named Life's Green.
Links
Site 1
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