St John's Cathedral, Brisbane and the Anzac Legend

The long-held belief that the underground escape route that Cavell formed part of was simply an escape network for soldiers has been questioned by very recent evidence which suggests that at least some in the network were actively involved in smuggling military intelligence to the British about German war activities in Belgium. There is no evidence that Cavell herself was involved in spying for Britain, but it is unlikely that she would have been unaware of the espionage activities of others in the network.

The evidence would seem to go some way to exonerating the Germans whose charge against Cavell was that she had been engaged in treason. At the time, however, her execution provided a huge propaganda coup for the allied cause. It was used by military recruiting agencies in Britain, Canada, Australia and other allied countries to reinforce the image of Germany as a monster and Cavell as a martyr, providing a graphic illustration why young men should enlist and take up arms against the enemy. Cavell’s death also helped turn public opinion in the United States in favour of entering the war.

First World War Australian military recruitment poster from 1915 featuring Nurse Cavell. A menacing German soldier stares at the slain body of Cavell, executed by a German firing squad, while Themis, the ancient Greek Goddess of Justice, looks on in horror. Artist: Virgil Reilly. Medium: chromolithograph on paper.

Australian War Memorial ARTV08902

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