NURSED KING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1938, Page 12

NURSED KING.

MRS. E. BONNER, M.V.O.

HONOURED BY EDWARD VII. DEATH OCCURS IN AUCKLAND i An honour conferred by the late King Edward VII. on the nurse who was in attendance at the* critical operation performed shortly before his Coronation, is recalled by the death at her home in Lee Street, Pamell, yesterday of Mrs. E. Bonner. In 1903, Mrs. Bonner, who was Nurse Alice 'Parr, received the decoration of. Member of the Victoria Order at an investiture held following the King's recovery. The honour was one reserved for those who had given personal service to a reigning monarch.

At tlie time of the operation, Nurse Tarr was operating nurse to the King's surgeon in ordinary, Sir Frederick Treves, and continued with this eminent surgeon until his retirement from active surgical practice. In 1901 she was one of the two nurses who went with Sir Frederick Treves to South Africa, and during the relief of Ladysmith, in the Boer War, she was stationed at the first field hospital near the war zone. In recognition of this service she was awarded the South African War Medal. In her earlier career she was for a time in charge of a hospital established at Woking during a scarlet fever epidemic in England. She was nurse to the present King when as a child, he underwent a minor operation at the Pala<:e. In IMI Nurse Tarr married Mr. Edward Bonner and seven Years later they came to New Zealand. Mrs. Bonner established a nursing home at Heme Bay and later a convalescent home at St. Ilclier's. Her experience and ability were recognised by the medical and nursing professions in Auckland, and she was highly esteemed. Her early friendship with Lady Treves, who is iiow over 80 years of age, was maintained until her death.

For a number of years she had been living in retirement at Papatoetoe and recently at Parnell. She is survived by her husband and her daughter, Mrs. Duncan Cameron, of Taumarunui. There are two grandchildren.