From The Times October 31, 1923
We deeply regret to record that Mr Bonar Law died at 3 o’clock yesterday morning at his London residence, Onslow Gardens, SW. The news was made public in the following official bulletin: “Mr Bonar Law died peacefully at 3am, following an acute attack of septic pneumonia. Gould May, Thomas Horder”.
When Mr Bonar Law was invited to undertake the office of Prime Minister, almost exactly a year ago, he naturally consulted his medical advisers. It is believed that they told him that he might undertake the burden for a period of about six months. His inclination was to announce this publicly, but he was dissuaded. When he was told that he might have to pay the penalty with his life, he is said to have replied that he would not be the first man to die for his country.
The doctors’ forecast proved to be right. Within seven months — on May 20 — Mr Bonar Law was compelled to lay down his office and retire from public life. A sea voyage had failed to remedy the throat trouble from which he had been suffering; his doctors were unable to promise improvement within a reasonable time; and his general health was not good.
He told his friends in Glasgow that during his voyage he had suffered constant pain and he had come back worse than when he went. “The verdict of the doctors,” he added, “left me no choice.” On the day after his resignation he underwent a slight operation on the glands of the throat, which gave him some relief. Later he improved sufficiently in health to be able to go to the sea, and he spent some time at Brighton recently, but when he returned a few weeks ago his health was still very poor.
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Last Friday a bulletin was issued stating that he was suffering from an exacerbation of a recent feverish chill and was confined to bed. During the weekend his condition showed no improvement, and on Monday evening his doctors announced that he had developed septic pneumonia. During the night Mr Bonar Law died in his sleep. Up till a late hour his daughters, Lady Sykes and Miss Catherina Law, and his two sons, Mr Anthony Law and Mr Richard Law, were with him.
A message from the King was received yesterday by Lady Sykes.
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