Edith Cavell

A hero is a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal. Edith Cavell is my hero because she saved many soldiers in World War I by nursing them. Edith was a person that did not care about wealth, but she did for health. She was a woman that wanted to accomplish her goals and wanted to be successful in everything. Edith risked a lot for people. Edith really did not care if she got anything in return for what she had given people. Edith is admired by people today and from people in her life because she had saved many people's families.

Edith Cavell was born on December 4, 1865. She was born in Norfolk. Edith lived with her parents and three other brothers and sisters. All children were taught the principles which their father held dear: thoughtfulness for others, self-sacrifice and praying for others. Edith also enjoyed spending time with her family. Edith had to switch from place to place because her parents lived in different homes. Edith had many step brothers and sisters. Edith was a joy to the Cavell family.

Edith was a smart woman that wished to nurse. She knew she was able to be a nurse and she was able to. Edith was schooled in nursing classes. And also she was home schooled by her father. Also Edith went to a school called Laurel Court.

In 1914, when World War I began, the school was training top quality nursing personnel for hospitals, schools, and private nursing homes. Also, on October 10, 1907 Antoine Depage founded L'Ecole d'Infirmiere Dimplonier, and Edith Cavell became the first director of this new nursing school. Edith had many important dates in her life. Edith's Father became seriously ill and she returned to Swardeston to nurse him. Edith also helped many soldiers to escape. Edith Cavell was a successful nurse that cured many people.

Edith was a wonderful woman that was able to save people's lives. She was a smart woman and a movie about her was nominated for an Oscar award. A memorable quote of Edith was, "I realized that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone." Edith died on October 12, 1915.

"The German military acted quickly to execute Cavell so higher authorities would not issue the pardon. She made no defense, admitting her actions, and was ordered to be executed by firing squad at 2 a.m. on October 12. The night before her execution she told the Anglican chaplain, the Rev. Father Gahan, who had been allowed to see her and to give her Holy Communion, "Patriotism is not enough, I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone." These words are inscribed on her statue in Saint Martin's Place, near Trafalgar Square in London. Her final words to the German pastor, Le Seur, were recorded as, "Ask Father Gahan to tell my loved ones later on that my soul, as I believe, is safe, and that I am glad to die for my country." There are conflicting reports of the execution: according to one account, on the way to the Wall she became faint, stumbled and fell, while she was unconscious, the German commanding officer took a revolver and shot her dead. However, the eyewitness account of "one Pasteur Le Seur," who attended Cavell in her final hours, asserts that the firing squad functioned normally, with eight soldiers firing at Cavell while eight others executed a Belgian civilian, Philippe Baucq."

Edith was very important and had a successful life. She was a hero to the World War I people because she saved many soldiers' lives by nursing them. Edith was a very good nurse and she even nursed her father when he was ill. Edith had lots of family like step brothers and sisters. Edith was a person that didn't get what she deserved. Edith helped many people escape from war and she was a hero to them. In response to her helping the soldiers escape they gave her a suffering death, which she did not deserve at all. Edith was notified that she was going to die the next day and she called a priest to give her the Holy Communion. Edith didn't deserve to be executed. All Edith worried about was to reach her goals. Edith is and will always be remembered by many today.