Nurse Edith Cavell

Edith Cavell hides a young Frenchman, Jean Rappard, in her clinic, risking discovery by patrols and hospital inspections. Her sheltering acts set in motion German scrutiny that will intensify over the following months.

German troops periodically inspect her hospital and question staff, threatening to expose any sheltering. The ongoing searches heighten fear and test Edith’s resolve to protect those seeking refuge.

Jean is placed on a canal barge and, despite being searched at the border, manages to escape to safety. The escape highlights the perilous cat-and-mouse game of survival under occupation.

Back in Brussels, a firing squad executes a dozen escaped prisoners who were caught in the woods, showing the brutal consequences of aiding fugitives. The incident underscores the brutal atmosphere of the occupation and the risks Edith faces.

Edith Cavell and Albert go to a battlefield near the woods to search for the wounded and bring them back to safety. Their actions illustrate the humanitarian resolve that runs through the story.

They hide four British men, including Private Bungey of the Buffs, in a secret room accessed via a wardrobe in the basement boiler room. The improvised concealment demonstrates the dangers and ingenuity required to shelter escapees.

The Countess organizes the network to arrange safe transportation for the escapees, coordinating with locals to move people toward safety. This step tightens the operation that Edith helps run.

Edith also tends dying German soldiers in the main hospital, showing her willingness to care for the wounded regardless of nationality. This dual role highlights the moral ambiguities at the heart of a medic’s duty.

Three more French prisoners are sent to the border by barge with Mme Moulin, expanding the flow of escapees aided by Edith’s circle. The operation grows more complex and increasingly risky.

An alleged escaped PoW arrives at the Countess's mansion; Edith's suspicions rise due to his accent, and she locks him in the kitchen while informing the German authorities. The encounter foreshadows intensified surveillance and infiltration.

The hospital comes under watch as the numbers aided grow, and Wilhelm Schultz, an officer from German military intelligence, begins to unravel how Edith and the Countess operate. He arranges for new ID papers and money for each escapee.

On August 5, 1915, Edith is arrested and taken to the Prison of St Gilles. A campaign to win clemency begins, but the Germans want to set an example.

At the court, she is charged with espionage and confronted by witnesses, including the young Francois Rappard in handcuffs. Edith admits that she helped at least 200 men escape.

Military judges sentence her to be shot at dawn. Some soldiers express reluctance to shoot a woman, but the execution proceeds with the assigned soldiers carrying out the sentence.

On May 15, 1919, a memorial service is held in Westminster Abbey to honor Edith Cavell and her sacrifices. The service commemorates the impact of her courage and inspires future humanitarian acts.