[1] Born in Trieste (then part of Austria-Hungary), Bonavia was the son of a musician, Eduardo Zernitz.
As a practising musician he played violin in the Halle Orchestra under Hans Richter from 1902 until 1912.
[3] During the 1914-18 war he served as a private soldier and worked at the Foreign Office, furthering Anglo-Italian relations.
His book Musicians in Elysium contains imaginary conversations with composers of the past.
[8] At the end of his life Bonavia's address was 39 Belsize Park Gardens, London NW3.