From the News

Dated: October 28, 1915

The Rev. Mr. Graham, an Anglican clergyman at Brussels, was allowed to see Miss Cavell before she was shot. The following is Mr. Graham's account of the interview:

On Monday evening, Oct. 11th, I was admitted by a special passport from the German authorities to the prison of St. Giles, where Miss Edith Cavell had been confined for ten weeks. The final sentence had been given early that afternoon.

To my astonishment and relief, I found my friend perfectly calm and resigned, but this could not lessen the tenderness and intensity of feeling on either part during that last interview of almost an hour.

Her first words to me were upon a matter concerning herself personally, but the solemn asservation which accompanied them was made expressly in the light of God and eternity. She then added that she wished all her friends to know that she willingly gave her life for her country, and said: “I have no fear were shrinking, I have seen death so often that it is not strange or fearful to me.”

She further said: “I thank God for this ten weeks of quiet before the end. My life has always been hurried and full of difficulties; this time the rest has been a great mercy. They have all been very kind to me here. But this I would say: standing as they do in view of God and eternity I realize that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.”

We partook of the Holy Communion together, and she received the Gospel message of consolation with all her heart. At the close of the little service I began to repeat the words “Abide with me” and she joined softly to the end.

We sat quietly talking until it was time for me to go. She gave me parting messages to relatives and friends. She spoke of her soul's needs at the moment, and she received the assurance of God's words as only a Christian can do.

Then I said goodbye, and she smiled and said, “We shall meet again.”

A German military chaplain was with her at the end, and afterwards gave her a Christian burial. He told me “She was brave and bright to the last. She professed her Christian faith and said she was glad to die for her country. She died like a heroine.”

Miss Cavell had long been suspected by the Germans, but she always refused to leave so long as there was a single wounded man left in Brussels, saying that duty compelled her to remain where there was suffering. It is believed that before her arrest she was spied upon. Little is known of the trial, but it is reported that when the President of the court asked if she wished to add anything to her defense or to sign a request for the German Emperor's pardon she merely shrugged her shoulders and walked out. She was as brave before the German rifles as she had been before the court-martial, and refused to have her eyes bandaged. She pinned a small Union Jack on her dress.