- The true story of Edith Cavell, a British nurse who served with the underground in Belgium during the First World War.
- Edith Cavell leaves her sweetheart George Brooks to follow her calling. When they meet later, George is a middle-aged blind man with a son, Frank (Creighton Hale). Edith becomes George's nurse, and his eyesight is restored through an operation. When World War I breaks up, Edith goes to Belgium to teach other nurses. The Germans take possession of her hospital, but she still manages to attend to the wounded British soldiers. There she discovers Frank and helps him escape. For this, she is arrested, tried, and executed by firing squad, despite entreaties from other nations to spare her.—scsu1975
- In the town of Norfolk, England, Edith Cavell is courted by George Brooks. When George proposes, Edith turns him down, explaining that she has a greater calling to be a nurse. Eventually Edith becomes the director of three Belgian hospitals, and also an instructor at the Belgium School for Certified Nurses. On a trip back to England, she visits an old friend, Dr. Hargrave. There, she is surprised to meet George, who has become a lieutenant in the British army. During an uprising in Africa, George had been blinded, and his wife killed. He has returned to his home town, with his son Frank, for an operation to restore his sight. Edith resolves to stay in England until the operation is completed. George's sight is restored, but word comes quickly that war has broken out with Germany. Frank answers the call to duty and enlists, bidding goodbye to his sweetheart, Joan Clemons. Edith returns to her post at the Brussels hospital.
The Germans invade Brussels, but Edith remains at the hospital determined to help the wounded soldiers. She receives a letter from George, advising her that Frank has been listed as missing in action, and asking her to determine his whereabouts if possible. A German officer allows Edith to remain at the hospital and attend to the wounded. One of the wounded soldiers is Frank, and Edith decides to help him escape to Holland. During his escape, Frank comes upon a German sentry and strips him of his uniform. He is then confronted by General Von Baring, aid to the Belgium Military Governor, General Von Bissing. Frank scuffles with Von Baring, and manages to escape. Von Baring reports to Von Bissing, and explains that his assailant was the soldier whom Edith Cavell had been talking to. Edith is arrested, and confined to a cell. The news leaks out to her mother back in England, who appeals to the British Secretary of Foreign Affairs. In turn, the British telephone the American ambassadors in London, requesting their intercession in the matter. The case is taken up with General Von Bissing, who promises to report all developments promptly to the American authorities. Baron Von De Lacken, representing the German government, promises a full report to the Americans, but denies them the right to appoint council for Edith, explaining that the Germans have already appointed M. Kirschen, an Austrian, to act as defense council.
For ten weeks, Edith is kept in prison, receiving no prisoners except for the German military, who seek to get incriminating evidence from her. Edith admits she helped Frank escape, to keep him from dying in the filth where the prisoners were kept. Edith is then taken in front of the German Military Court for trial. Meanwhile, both the British and American authorities try to obtain news of Edith's fate, to no avail. Eventually, news reaches the American Minister in Brussels that Edith has been condemned to death. Attempts to stay her execution go unheeded. Reverend Gahan, of the British diocese, is allowed to see Edith before her execution. The two pray together, and Edith declares she does not fear death.
The following morning, Edith is marched to the prison yard and placed in front of a firing squad. The soldiers fire, and Edith falls, but she is not yet dead. The German officer in charge of the squad places a revolver to her head, and fires the final shot.
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