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Edith Cavell

Memorial statue to Edith Cavell, executed for helping British soldiers in %+%Location%m%15%n%Belgium%-% reach neutral %+%Location%m%65%n%Netherlands%-%. She was executed by firing squad in Brussels, Belgium on October 12, 1915. Sited in St. Martin's Place, London, the pedestal on which her statue stands is placed before a column, square at the base and rounded above her head. On the four sides of the lower column are the words 'Humanity,' 'Sacrifice,' 'Devotion,' 'Fortitude.' The inscription on the front of the pedestal reads: 'Edith Cavell Brussels Dawn October 12th 1915 Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness for anyone.' The quotation is from her conversation with the English chaplain, Mr. Gahan, who was with her before her execution. At the top of the column a mother and child replace the top of a cross. Below them is a shield reading 'For King and Country.' The memorial was designed by Sir George Frampton.

Memorial statue to Edith Cavell, executed for helping British soldiers in Belgium reach neutral Netherlands. She was executed by firing squad in Brussels, Belgium on October 12, 1915.
Sited in St. Martin's Place, London, the pedestal on which her statue stands is placed before a column, square at the base and rounded above her head. On the four sides of the lower column are the words 'Humanity,' 'Sacrifice,' 'Devotion,' 'Fortitude.' The inscription on the front of the pedestal reads:
'Edith Cavell
Brussels Dawn October 12th 1915
Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness for anyone.'
The quotation is from her conversation with the English chaplain, Mr. Gahan, who was with her before her execution.
At the top of the column a mother and child replace the top of a cross. Below them is a shield reading 'For King and Country.'
The memorial was designed by Sir George Frampton. © 2014 John M. Shea

Image text

Humanity



Edith Cavell

Brussels Dawn October 12th 1915

Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness for anyone.

The quotation is from her conversation with the English chaplain, Mr. Gahan, who was with her before her execution.

At the top of the column a mother and child replace the top of a cross. Below them is a shield reading 'For King and Country.'

The memorial was designed by Sir George Frampton.

Other views: Larger, Larger

A British nurse who worked in Belgium before the war, Edith Cavell returned to Belgium after the war began. She harbored French and English soldiers and Belgians of military age, and helped them to the neutral Netherlands with money for their journey to France.

At her trial, she admitted that some of the men she had helped had written to her from Britain, and that was used to demonstrate that she had conducted soldiers to the enemy.

Cavellwas convicted of treason, and was executed by firing squad on October 12, 1915.

October 12, 1915

Great Britain

Roles held by Edith Cavell

Role Start Date End Date
Non-Combatant

Some books by or about Edith Cavell (1)

Title Author
A Journal from our Legation in Belgium Hugh Gibson