A Noble Woman: The Life-Story of Edith CavellProtheroe, Ernest
History
A Noble Woman: The Life-Story of Edith Cavell
Protheroe, Ernest
Cavell, Edith, 1865-1915
It has been asserted that by her own request Miss Cavell was permitted
to face her executioners with unbandaged eyes and unbound hands. But
more than that, according to later information, the Germans, with one of
their acute refinements of cruelty, allowed her to witness the execution
of M. Bancq, and it was this sight, more than fear of her own end, that
caused her to collapse.
The only announcement of Miss Cavell's death received by her friends and
pupils was through a poster displayed on the walls of Brussels baldly
announcing that the execution had taken place; and letters which were
addressed to them the day before she died were not delivered until a
month afterwards.
The body of the martyr was buried by her enemies near the prison of St.
Gilles. Mr. Whitlock, on behalf of the First President of the Brussels
Court of Appeals and President of the Belgian School of Certificated
Nurses, asked Baron von der Lancken for the body of Miss Cavell, its
directress. It was undertaken, in the removal of the body and its burial
in the Brussels district, to conform to all the regulations of the
German authorities. Mr. Whitlock remarked that he felt sure that His
Excellency would make no objection to the request, and that the
institution to which Miss Cavell had generously devoted a part of her
life would be permitted to perform a pious duty. Baron von der Lancken
did not send a written reply, but called upon Mr. Gibson in person. He
stated that under the regulations governing such cases it was
impossible to exhume the body without written permission from the
Minister of War in Berlin. Thus the Germans took the opportunity of
crowning their foul deed with the final dishonour of a refusal of even
such a last pitiful request.
Really it is immaterial where Edith Cavell's body may be laid to rest,
although sentiment may demand its ultimate recovery. Her memory will
lack nothing. It is enshrined in glowing effulgence in the hearts of
Britons and our Allies for all time.
Although our story is the record of Edith Cavell, we can spare a thought
for her heroic companions. M. Philippe Bancq declared his willingness to
die for his country, and the Germans took him at his word. Princess
Marie de Croy was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment; but the Comtesse
de Belleville and Mademoiselle Thulier were condemned to death. Upon
strong representations made by the King of Spain and the Pope, however,
the German Emperor hastened to pardon these two ladies, because he was
aware of the universal horror caused by the deliberate political murder
of Miss Cavell. Von Bissing, too, evidently was warned by the Kaiser to
moderate his bloodthirstiness, as evidenced by a promise of their lives
to all British and French soldiers still hidden in Belgium if they
surrendered without delay. Verily, it was speedily proved that Nurse
Cavell had died that others might live--and it is not always the case
that even the greatest sacrifices bear so speedy a fruit.
VIII
IN MEMORIAM
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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