Person    | Female  Born 4/12/1865  Died 12/10/1915

Edith Louisa Cavell

Categories: Medicine, Seriously Famous

Countries: Belgium

War dead, WW1 i

Commemorated on a memorial as having died in WW1.

Edith Cavell was born on 4 December 1865 in Swardeston in Norfolk. At the age of 20 she entered the nursing profession, training at the London Hospital 1896 - 1901. Assistant Matron at the Shoreditch Infirmary, 1903 - 1906. In 1907 she became the matron of the Berkendael Institute in Brussels. During the First World War the Germans occupied Belgium, and Cavell sheltered British, French and Belgian soldiers at the Institute, from where they were helped to escape to Holland, which was neutral. In August 1915, Cavell and several others were arrested and tried by a court-martial. Cavell made a full confession and was sentenced to death on 7 October.
Although neutral governments, including the US and Spanish representatives tried to have them reprieved, she and a Belgian, Philippe Baucq, were shot on 12 October. Her death was widely condemned. She is buried at Norwich Cathedral. There are three memorials to her in Brussels.

Credit for this entry to: Jane Davis

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Edith Louisa Cavell

Commemorated ati

Edith Cavell at Royal London Hospital

English Heritage Edith Cavell, 1865 - 1915, pioneer of modern nursing in Belg...

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Edith Cavell plaque

Cavell was executed by the Germans in Brussels and she figures on our sister ...

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Edith Cavell statue

This was the obvious memorial to choose as the first featured memorial for Lo...

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Mile End mural

Murals are often rather fun puzzles so do have a go identifying what you can ...

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Doctor Stephen Charles Gold, MD, FRCP

Doctor Stephen Charles Gold, MD, FRCP

Dermatologist and author. He wrote 'A Biographical History of British Dermatology'. Our Picture Source and his obituary confirm he served during WW2 in the Royal Army Medical Corps for four years ...

Person, Armed Forces, Literature, Medicine

1 memorial
Charing Cross Hospital

Charing Cross Hospital

This hospital was established in 1818 in Suffolk Street as the West London Infirmary and Dispensary. 1821 moved to Villiers Street, becoming known as Charing Cross Hospital in 1827. A new building ...

Place, Medicine

2 memorials
Princess Royal Nurses Home

Princess Royal Nurses Home

Foundation stone laid by The Princess Royal, 7th July 1933, in the presence of 11 "children of England". 

Building, Medicine

1 memorial
Sir John Simon

Sir John Simon

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Redesign and re-opening of Memorial Park at Guy's Hospital

Redesign and re-opening of Memorial Park at Guy's Hospital

Re-designed in 1992. The arch was moved in 1994.

Event, History, Medicine

2 memorials