War Heroes: Edith Cavell Part 2

By SUSAN BROCKER, Illustrator W.H. Anderson

As the German army marched into Belgium, Allied soldiers cut off from their units were left stranded behind enemy lines. They had two choices: to surrender as prisoners of war (POWs), or try to escape undercover from Belgium. But, if they disguised themselves as civilians, they could be shot as spies. If anyone helped them, they could be shot, too. Whatever the danger, Edith Cavell turned away no one who needed help.

Soon, many fugitive soldiers were coming to Nurse Cavell asking for help. She hid them in the hospital and cared for them until they were well and it was safe to escape. Then, she gave them money, identification papers, and guides to lead them along an escape route. The escape route was carefully planned by Edith Cavell and members of the Belgian Resistance.

Once, she had as many as eighteen soldiers hidden in her hospital. She helped not only British, but French and Belgian soldiers as well. She looked after them, tended to their wounds at all hours of the night, and ran the hospital. Only a few of her staff knew of her work, because she didn't want to put them at risk. By 1915, she had helped more than two hundred soldiers to escape.

Publisher: Shortland Publications, $8.95
Age: 10-12 years