In the early stages of the war, some who could afford it repatriated bodies of their relatives. From early 1915 the British Government prevented repatriation and bodies of all British victims of the war were interred in or close to where they died. Edith Cavell was one of only 3 people whose bodies were repatriated to the U.K. thereafter. The others were Charles Fryatt, Captain of a merchant ship, executed for ramming a U-Boat, and that of the Unknown Warrior. All received a State Funeral and Cavell was buried in the grounds of Norwich Cathedral by special dispensation. There is a statue of her near Pall Mall and a memorial marking her grave in Norwich, Norfolk.
Director Herbert Wilcox here remakes his own film Enfermeira Mártir (1928), which starred Dame Sybil Thorndike as Edith Cavell, the role played here by his muse and future wife Anna Neagle.
The bible verse Cavell reads in the night, "Appoint out for you cities of refuge whereof I spake unto you..." is from Joshua 20:2.
Opening credits: Gratefully acknowledging the information, letters and hitherto unpublished British, American and German documents placed at our disposal by -
The relatives of Nurse Edith Cavell.
Miss E. Wilkins, O.B.E., chief assistant to Nurse Cavell in Brussels during 1914-1915.
The authorities of the Imperial War Museum, London.
The Department of State, Washington.