In the late '50s, early '60s, I had watched this film with my mother.
At home one lunchtime, I watched a repeat of the film and I wondered what Edith Cavell really looked like.
Following an Internet search, I downloaded these photographs of Cavell and her nurses.
A few weeks later, I was updating my family tree with the following:
Two days later, I was contacted by someone via Ancestry who told me that Elizabeth Wilkins had been arrested at the same time as Edith Cavell.
The next day, I happened to be going into London for a meeting with Coop Bank management at Prescot Street where, at that time, the Royal College of Nursing had their archives.
I asked whether they had any photographs of Cavell and Wilkins - it turned out that I had already downloaded some that showed Sister Wilkins.
Wrong colour uniform for her position as Sister - but the same pose.
Elizabeth's early life:
born 24.02.1883, Elias Road, Neath
06.10.1885 - Age 2, she was admitted into Neath Parish Poor House along with her mother Annie and her brother John Bastaple Wilkins. The family was "Removed by husband" four days later.
1888, 1891 - living in King Street, Neath. Her father, Stephen, was a Railway Labourer and Plate Layer.
1901, Elizabeth and her sister Edith were with family in Haverfordwest.
Skip forward to 1911
In 1912, Wilkins replied to an advert in the Nursing Mirror to work with Edith Cavell in Brussels. Through the Maritime Hospital she was used to aiding foreign patients, she was also a member of the Anglo-French Society. Cavell accepted Wilkins without an interview.
Edith Cavell's route to Belgium included an application to Swansea General Hospital.
Edith Cavell's application to Swansea General Hospital (one of two applications, 1901 and 1902). She was not invited for an interview. Coincidentally, we were living in Highgate when this was unearthed.
In May 1907, Edith Cavell had been asked by Dr. Antoine Depage to set up this new School as Matron. She arrived on September 17th of that year - the opening date was October! In 1908, Edith was regarded as Head Matron of the School and the Surgical Institution.
In Belgium at that time, the nursing profession was held in low esteem so Matron Cavell had to build both expertise and discipline. Nurses were considered on a par with menial jobs so quality staff were hard to come by. Under Cavell, the School evolved into a model of good practice. In 1910, a new hospital was opened and Edith became Head Matron.
In 1912 on her arrival in Brussels, Elizabeth Wilkins was given responsibility for a ward of patients and five probationary nurses.
Cavell returned to Brussels on 3rd August, 1914. The Germans invaded Belgium and Britain declared war on the 4th.
On 18th August, Brussels was declared an undefended city.
The Training School, Institute and St. Gilles hospital are prepared with extra beds.
All became Red Cross hospitals and flew the Red Cross flag. The expectation was that all would be treated according to the Geneva Convention.
Elizabeth Wilkins was told that she would be safer back in the UK. Along with some other nurses, she chose to stay with Cavell.
Some schools and factories were also prepared as hospitals. Matron Cavell checked their suitability.
The Germans marched into the city on August 20th.
Cavell tells her staff that "The nursing profession knows no frontiers."
"Life started to revert to the Middle Ages", black bread ... and so on.
On November 1st 1914, Colonel Boger was sent to Edith Cavell by Marie Depage. He and his CSM, Fred Meachin, arrived in civvies and became the first "Guests".
Both accepted by Cavell in direct contravention of German proclamations.
Marie Depage went to the US in March 1915 to raise funds for the war. She died whilst travelling home on the Lusitania.
Princess de Croy had "girl guides" who used to search the fields for escaped and injured Allies.
An organisation grew up that could produce photographs, identity cards, passports, false official stamps, safe houses, a myriad of helpers, many different escape routes. Between November 1914 and October 1915, Edith Cavell and the network assisted (officially) 200+ escapees. Other estimates go as high as 1,500.
Increasingly, the network came under suspicion, nurses were followed and diversionary tactics developed.
- In June 1915, Georges Quien ingratiated himself with nurses and the cook's daughter. He turned out to be from the Secret Police.
- A man named "Jacobs" arrived and stayed a week. On his departure, Nurse Wilkins found torn up papers in his room. He was Armand Jeannes, an agent.
- Otto Mayer called at the School. Wilkins managed to get word to 2 Belgians and 2 Frenchmen to get out via the garden. Wilkins showed him around the wards and he asked Wilkins about "any other Tommies". She said she knew nothing but was taken to Secret Police HQ at the Boulevard de Berlaimont, questioned for three hours then released.
- Edith Cavell then burned many papers - diary, addresses, records, letters.
- Mayer returned the next day with four policemen, searched the premises but found nothing significant.
There was clearly extra pressure being brought to bear. On 14 June, Cavell wrote to her mother hinting that something was seriously wrong. At 4pm on Thursday, 5th August, both Edith Cavell and Elizabeth Wilkins were arrested and taken to the police station at rue de la Loi for questioning. Wilkins was interrogated with leading questions "You might as well admit these things because we know you have harboured men in rue de la Culture..... two of our men, Quien and Jacobs have provided us with information". She was released at 8pm - she didn't know why as they seemed to know so much.
On her return to the School, she had assumed that Cavell would already be there. She became totally distraught when she realised the situation. Cavell was not told of Wilkins's release.
The trial began on 7th October, 1915. There were 35 accused and six main defendants including Edith Cavell.
St. Gilles Prison
Cavell was charged with treason for assisting men to get to the enemy.
Depositions were all in German so she could not check them for accuracy.
She had no legal support - at least not until actually in court!
Nurse Wilkins visited the prison every day and delivered such things as requested by Cavell. She wasn't allowed to see Cavell until the end of September.
On 4th October, Cavell requested civilian clothes as she wanted her actions to be seen as her own responsibility and not reflect on the nursing profession.
Your lovely flowers have brought life and colour to my cell, the roses are still fresh, but the chrysanthemums did not like prison life any more than I do.
The Trial in the Senate Chamber.
7th and 8th October - court convened, charges read and prisoners questioned. Cavell now has legal assistance.
9th October (Saturday) - seeking news, Wilkins turned away from the jail. On resumption of the trial, Cavell and four others recommended for the death sentence (subject to out-of-court review.)
10th October - Wilkins again turned away. 3pm 11th October Wilkins received news that the death sentence had been pronounced.
Wilkins went straight to the American Legation. They had known about the arrest from the outset but had assumed there would be time. Brand Whitlock was ill in bed who thought everything an exaggeration.
They always ask for the extreme penalty everywhere.
As it was Sunday, nobody could receive confirmation.
11th October - Cavell told to go and receive her sentence. Late in the afternoon, she was told she would be executed the next day.
Wilkins went to the prison and she was told the news.
She again went to the American Legation. They had feared swift justice, but not this quickly. Many avenues tried, all failed.
Standing as I am between God and eternity, I realise that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness for anyone.
Following Edith Cavell's death recruitment doubled from 5,000 a week to 10,000 for eight consecutive weeks (coincided with government adding pressure on volunteers). Her death used in propaganda recruitment posters.
Emperor Wilhelm would have done better to lose an entire army corps than to butcher Miss Cavell - Rider Haggard, 23 October, 1915.
The Kaiser distanced himself from the killing and ordered that no more women should be shot without his sanction.
Gaston Quien went to France and was arrested as a traitor and a spy. Elizabeth Wilkins gave evidence (wearing her nurse's uniform). He was sentenced to death but this was commuted to 20 years' imprisonment.
A Secret Police informant, Maurice Neels, was shot by Louis Bril while leaving a police station. In turn, Bril was caught, summarily tried and executed (his name is also on the Senate plaque).
The statue was sculpted by George Frampton (known for his statue of Peter Pan). He accepted no fee and called it a labour of love. The statue was completed in 1920 but the "Patriotism" quote was not authorised until 1924.
Nurse Wilkins was consulted about Edith Cavell's uniform whilst recognising "It will take you a long time before you feel all right again after the horrors you have been through"
November 19/20 - Elizabeth Wilkins returned to Britain via Amsterdam (with Grace Jemmett who had been looked after by Edith).
She initially stayed with her brother in Llanelli.
In 1916, Elizabeth became Sister-in-Charge at the Red Cross Hospital at St. Fagan's.
Elizabeth became Matron of the Cottage Hospital in Chard.
Was awarded the OBE (March 1920)
Princess de Croy wrote to Elizabeth about her experiences in WWII. She had again helped escapees "We had to help our men to escape"
The following photograph shows the original Chard Cottage Hospital - it has changed considerably! Immediately next to the hospital is this small street named after her.
Front page news in 1965 - nice to see that Elizabeth became a lifelong friend of Dame Anna Neagle and she was respected by all in the community.
Nurse / Sister / Matron Elizabeth Wilkins O.B.E. (1883- 1965)
anthony@e-freedom.co.uk
With thanks to Chard Museum and the Red Cross for their help and contributions, also to Nick Miller - www.edithcavell.org.uk