St John's Cathedral, Brisbane and the Anzac Legend

In the South Transept of St John’s Cathedral there is a stained-glass window by William Bustard which commemorates one of the most iconic figures of the First World War, the nurse Edith Cavell. She received global attention after she was captured and executed by the Germans for helping allied soldiers escape from occupied Belgium. Edith Cavell (1865-1915) was born in England, the daughter of an Anglican priest. She trained as a nurse in hospitals in London and Manchester. Cavell, who was fluent in French, then moved to Brussels in Belgium and was put in charge of a pioneer training school for nurses on the outskirts of the city. She achieved great success, providing professionally trained nurses for 40 establishments across Belgium. When war broke out in 1914 Cavell’s nursing school became a neutral Red Cross hospital, treating German and allied soldiers alike. In the confusion that followed the French and British retreat after the Battle of Mons, many allied soldiers were cut off in German-occupied Belgium. Cavell began to shelter some of these soldiers and help spirit them away to neutral Holland. Soon she was part of an underground escape network headed by the Prince and Princess de Croy from their family chateau at Mons. In all, Cavell helped 200 soldiers escape into Holland. Those involved in the escape network knew that at any time they could be caught and executed by the Germans, as under German military law harbouring fugitives had become an offence punishable by death. In theory, as a member of the Red Cross, Cavell should have remained neutral, but her conscience led her to believe that helping soldiers escape was a humane act, just as much as caring for the sick and injured. It was contrary to her nature to refuse to help anyone in distress. She believed that if she didn’t help the allied soldiers they would be not be cared for by the German Army as legitimate prisoners of war, but instead would be shot.

In August 1915 Cavell was betrayed to the Germans who arrested her along with other members of the escape route. She was tried without proper legal representation, found guilty and sentenced to death. She was executed by firing squad in October 1915. Althoughher execution was legal under international law, it caused widespread outrage in many countries including Britain, France, the United States, Canada and Australia. In accordance with the conventions of the age, people were horrified that the Germans would execute a woman and a nurse, particularly given that Cavell had cared for German as well as allied soldiers at her hospital. Cavell’s quiet religious faith and courageous demeanour during her trial and imprisonment also left a lasting impression.

Opposite page: Window in the South Transept of the Cathedral commemorating English nurse Edith Cavell who was executed by the German Army for smuggling 200 allied soldiers to safety.

Ken Lilley / St John’s Cathedral

Edith Cavell.

State Library of Queensland

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