Plaque commemorating life of WWII nurse unearthed during demolition works

Caroline Williams Reporter from North Shore Times

Kia ora koutou. A plaque in honour of WWII nurse Eliza Daisy Cargo has been rediscovered during some earthworks at North Shore Hospital.

Eliza was the first matron at the North Shore Obstetric Hospital. The block she worked in was demolished last year to make way for a new hospital building due to open in 2023.

A plaque commemorating her life was put in the adjoining grounds around 60 years ago, but had been hidden by vegetation over the decades, the Waitematā DHB said in a statement.

North Shore Hospital has now relocated the plaque, and held a small unveiling ceremony on Friday, attended by two of Eliza's former colleagues and a family member.

Born in 1909, Eliza is believed to have spent the first few years of her life in Manurewa. She finished finished her nursing training at Auckland Hospital around 1937 and served with the New Zealand Army Service in Italy, Egypt and New Caledonia during WWII, and later with J Force in Japan.

After completing her military service, Eliza led the Devonport Obstetric Hospital for about seven years, and also worked at a hospital in Pukekohe.

Between 1958 and 1964, Eliza oversaw the training of many student nurses as matron at North Shore Obstetric Hospital.

One of those nurses was Brenda Vujcich, who said of Eliza: "She influenced us greatly in our early training and was a very efficient and gracious sister who we all admired".

Eliza married Harold James Thompson later in her life and lived in Howick until her death in 1976.

Waitematā DHB director of midwifery Emma Farmer said it seemed fitting to unveil the plaque in time for Anzac Day.

“Eliza played a prominent role in the history of North Shore Hospital. We are also very conscious of her years in the New Zealand Army Nursing Service where she and her colleagues frequently risked their lives to help others during WWII."

Photo credit: Alexander Turnbull Library