Edith Cavell’s dog Jack features in exhibition about the Norfolk nurse and WWI heroine

Edith Cavell’s faithful dog Jack is featured in a new exhibition in Norwich Cathedral Library about the Norfolk nurse and First World War heroine.

The free exhibition – Edith Cavell in her own voice – is on display until Tuesday 23 December and aims to tell Edith’s story through her own words, paintings and possessions, rather than through the propaganda that followed her execution by the Germans on October 12 1915 for helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape occupied Belgium.

The exhibition is part of Norwich Cathedral’s Edith Cavell 110 commemorations marking the 110th anniversary of Edith’s death, and a special weekend of events will be taking place at the Cathedral on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October.

The Revd Dr Peter Doll, Norwich Cathedral’s Canon Librarian and Vice Dean, said: “Edith Cavell is famous for the impact her execution had on the public response to the First World War. She herself was a very private woman, but our hope is that the Edith Cavell 110 events will help us to know more about Edith as a person. The welcome presence of her beloved Jack is a perfect symbol of that.”

Norwich Cathedral’s Librarian Gudrun Warren, who has curated the exhibition, said: “We are privileged to be able to display a number of objects owned by Edith Cavell or closely associated with her, and warmly acknowledge those who have generously enabled them to come together here at the Cathedral.”

Among the most famous pictures of Edith is one of her sitting with her two dogs, Don and Jack, and it is Jack who is on display in Norwich Cathedral Library.

Jack, a Belgian Shepherd, was a stray dog who became Edith’s companion during her time working as a nurse in Brussels, and he was looked after by Edith’s fellow nurses following her arrest and execution. He was later taken to the de Croy country estate in Belgium by Princess Mary de Croy. After his death in 1923, his embalmed body was sent to the Norfolk branch of the Red Cross, and he is now looked after by Imperial War Museums who have kindly allowed him to be part of the Edith Cavell in her own voice exhibition.

Another extremely poignant item on display is the communion set which the Revd Stirling Gahan used to administer Holy Communion to Edith Cavell on the night before her execution, and also the 1915 diary of the Revd Stirling Gahan which includes accounts of his meetings with Edith Cavell while she was imprisoned. The communion set will also be used in services during the Edith Cavell 110 weekend on 11 and 12 October.

Visitors to the exhibition can see the last letter known to have been written by Edith before her arrest as well as two of Edith’s Bibles and other books that were important to her, some of which are on loan from Edith Cavell’s family and some from the Norwich Cathedral Library collection.

Edith’s family have also loaned one of Edith’s dresses meanwhile some paintings and drawings showing Edith’s skill as an artist are on display courtesy of Swardeston Edith Cavell Archive.

During the Edith Cavell 110 weekend, all are welcome to attend the annual commemoration beside Edith’s grave at 11am on Saturday 11 October. Later that day, experts from Europe and America will gather to share their reflections in the symposium New Insights into Edith Cavell’s Life and Legacy.

The symposium is fully booked but people will also be able to watch it via a live stream on the Norwich Cathedral Services YouTube Channel from 1.30pm.

Key speakers include:

• Professor Emmanuel Debruyne, Louvain University, Belgium
• Candice Millard, biographer, Kansas City, Missouri, United States
• The Revd Dr Peter Doll, Norwich Cathedral
• Andrew Brown, Group Chairman, Belgian Edith Cavell Commemoration Group
• Nick Miller, Edith Cavell Archivist from Edith’s home village of Swardeston
• Professor Nancy Fontaine, Chair of Trustees of the charity Cavell, founded in memory of Edith and supporting nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants.

On Sunday 12 October, the preacher at Norwich Cathedral’s 3.30pm Festal Evensong will be Canon Jack MacDonald, Chaplain-General of the Anglican Central Committee in Belgium, and a Canon of Holy Trinity Brussels, where Edith worshipped during her last year in Belgium.

The free exhibition Edith Cavell in her own voice is on display in Norwich Cathedral Library until Tuesday 23 December. The exhibition is open 10am-4pm Tuesdays to Thursdays and will also be open 10am-2pm on Saturday 11 October and 1pm-3pm on Sunday 12 October.

The Edith Cavell 110 weekend will take place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October 2025 and is free to attend.

The symposium on Saturday 11 October is fully booked but people will also be able to watch the event via a live stream on the Norwich Cathedral Services YouTube Channel from 1.30pm.