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Piece
Edith CAVELL: British. The file includes contact with a Belgian couple who claimed...
Catalogue reference: KV 2/822
What’s it about?
This record is about the Edith CAVELL: British. The file includes contact with a Belgian couple who claimed... dating from 1915 Aug 03-1917 Dec 06 in the series The Security Service: Personal (PF Series) Files. It is held at The National Archives, Kew.
Is it available online?
Yes, this record is available online and can be downloaded. How to view it.
Can I see it in person?
No, this record is not available to see in person at The National Archives. Other ways to view it.
Full description and record details
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Reference (The unique identifier to the record described, used to order and refer to it)
- KV 2/822
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Date (When the record was created)
- 1915 Aug 03-1917 Dec 06
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Description (What the record is about)
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Edith CAVELL: British. The file includes contact with a Belgian couple who claimed to have received a message from Edith CAVELL for passing to her mother warning her of the dangers of German spies enquiring about her. Within weeks CAVELL had been arrested, tried by military court and executed. There is some discussion on the file whether the execution of Nurse CAVELL should not make the case for carrying out death sentences passed on women found guilty of German espionage in Britain. The file contains photographs of Nurse CAVELL's grave and place of execution sent by the French authorities to the Security Service for forwarding to her mother.
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Note (Additional information about the record)
- With photographs and an original letter from Edith CAVELL's mother thanking the Security Service for sending the photographs to her
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Held by (Who holds the record)
- The National Archives, Kew
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Former department reference (Former identifier given by the originating creator)
- PF49491
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Legal status (A note as to whether the record being described is a Public Record or not)
- Public Record(s)
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Language (The language of the record)
- English
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Physical description (The amount and form of the record)
- file(s)
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Access conditions (Information on conditions that restrict or affect access to the record)
- Retained Until 2002
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Closure status (Whether the record is ‘open’ (available to the public) or ‘closed’ (not available due to a legal exemption))
- Open Document, Open Description
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Subjects (Categories and themes found in our collection (our subject list is under development, and some records may have no subjects or fewer than expected))
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- Topics
- Intelligence
- Sex and gender
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Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C11050172/
How to order it
- View this record page in our current catalogue
- Check viewing and downloading options
- Select an option and follow instructions
Series information
KV 2
The Security Service: Personal (PF Series) Files
See the series level description for more information about this record.
Catalogue hierarchy
Over 27 million records
This record is held at The National Archives, Kew
6,152 records
Within the department: KV
Records of the Security Service
4,773 records
Within the series: KV 2
The Security Service: Personal (PF Series) Files
You are currently looking at the piece: KV 2/822
Edith CAVELL: British. The file includes contact with a Belgian couple who claimed...
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