A GREAT PASSING.

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2391, 19 December 1924, Page 4

A GREAT PASSING.

MATRON WHYTE OF ROTORUA. EX-MATRON AT ‘ ‘ SAN. ’ ’ Immeasurable regret has been expressed throughout the whole district upon the receipt of the passing away from pulmonary embolism, "of Matron I. M. Whyte, RI.R.C., for some time matron at the Pukeora Sanatorium, and who died recently in Rotorua, she was Matron of King George V. Hospital. A magnificent record of fine work and a splendid sheet of duty faithfully done is left behind by Miss Whyte Graduating at Auckland, she achieved considerable success in her experience in New Zealand and then joined up with the Queen Alexandra Imperial Nursing Service at Home, remaining in that service for a period of eleven years.

With the first Imperial Forces right at the outbreak of the War she crossed into the "Cockpit of Europe’’, and laboured there through the disastrous retreats of the Belgian forces and right through the Battle of the Marne. On leaving France she continued her work, assuming control of military hospitals in England, retiring only on account of ill-health.

Mentioned twice in despatches, received at Buckingham Palace, received at Marlborough House, decorated yith the Mcdaillc de la Heine,-by tjfe King of the Belgians, and with the Medal by the Royal-Red Cross, were but a few of the distinctions of the.deceased Matron.

Upon her return to New Zealand she assumed the matronship of the Coro, mandel Hospital later coming to Pukeora and . then transferring to King George V. Hospital. A strict disciplinarian an indefatiguable worker, a tactful leader, a gentle nurse and a sympathetic friend, ALatron Whyte went to her grave lamented by thousands of the "boys’’ during the War and the loss of the community is great indeed. The Alati>»n was accorded a fu>. military funeral.