Summary

Image depicting the memorial erected in Norwich, England, to Edith Cavell, taken between October 1918 and July 1919. One of 129 World War I photographs likely to have been taken by Driver Cyril Rose, AIF. Rose was made a driver in the 1st Australian Auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company before moving to the 2nd Australian Divisional Mechanical Transport Company when in France. He sailed from Melbourne on 22 December 1916 on the Persic, arriving in England in March 1917. In June he was sent to France where his service consisted of driving in a supply column. He returned to Australia on the Persic on 13 July 1919.

Edith Cavell served as a nurse with the red cross in Belgium during World War I. On August 5, 1915 she was arrested by the Germans on the charge of assisting allied troops to escape to Holland. After being held for nine weeks, Edith confessed and was brought to trial. She was sentenced to death by firing squad, along with her accomplice Philippe Baucq, and was executed on 12 October 1915. Her execution received widespread media coverage and on 12 October 1918 Queen Alexandra unveiled a memorial in Tombland, Norwich. It is this memorial that is depicted here. The memorial was moved in 1993 to beside the Erpingham Gate, near Norwich Cathedral. After the war her body was brought back to England and after a service at Westminster Abbey was interred at Norwich Cathedral. The words 'EDITH CAVELL NURSE / PATRIOT AND MARTYR' are inscribed on the base of the monument.

A majority of the images included in the album appear to be from the time Rose spent in England, particularly Wiltshire, before he travelled to France. The album also includes images of servicemen, battle sites, buildings and Cologne, Germany.

Description of Content

Image depicting what appears to be a memorial column of a sculpted serviceman reaching up to place a second wreath near a bust surmounting a pedestal.

Physical Description

Black and white photographic print on paper, faded to sepia tones.

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