Honour British Nurse Edith Cavell, executed by the Germans on 12th October 1915.

Honour British Nurse Edith Cavell, executed by the Germans on 12th October 1915.

Born on 4th December 1865.  Edith is remembered for saving the lives of soldiers from both sides, also helping around 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during the course of the First World War.

She was subsequently arrested and accused of treason, found guilty by a court-martial and sentenced to death.

The verdict caused international outrage, however, the verdict was upheld and Edith was shot by a German firing squad.

The Imperial German Government believed it had acted fairly towards Edith.

German Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr Alfred Zimmermann issued a statement to the press on behalf of the German government as follows:

“It was a pity that Miss Cavell had to be executed, but it was necessary.  She was judged justly ... It is undoubtedly a terrible thing that the woman has been executed, but consider what would happen to a State, particularly in war, if it left crimes aimed at the safety of its armies to go unpunished because they were committed by women.

The execution was widely condemned and received extensive press coverage globally.

As a result in January 1916, the Kaiser issued a decree stating from then on capital punishment would not be carried out on women without his express permission.

Edith Cavill’s body was returned to Great Britain in 1919.A state funeral was held at Westminster Abbey on the 19th May 1919.