Nona Hildyard

Nona Mildred Hildyard (4 November 1888 – 23 October 1915) was a New Zealand nurse who served in the First World War and died in the sinking of SS Marquette in 1915.

Early life Hildyard was born in Lyttelton, near Christchurch, New Zealand, on 4 November 1888, to William and Betsy Ann Hildyard. Her father was a bootmaker and a Lyttelton Borough Councillor. Hildyard attended West Lyttelton School and Lyttelton District High School. She trained as a nurse at Christchurch Hospital. Survivors reported that she sang while in the water, to keep spirits up.

Recognition In 1916, the people of Lyttelton raised money and commissioned artist Richard Wallwork to paint a portrait of Hildyard, which was presented to the Borough Council in 1917.

Hildyard is named on the Lyttelton War Memorial, the Mikra British Cemetery in Greece and in the Nurses' Memorial Chapel at Christchurch Hospital.