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Hillestad , Olaf Nicolay Bolling (O N B)

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No photograph available — remembrance poppy
Identity
Person No.
49646
Service No.
Unknown
Last Name
Hillestad 3
First Name
Olaf Nicolay Bolling
Initials
O N B
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1895 (±1 yr) 598
Age at Death
21
Death Record
Date of Death
02 October 1916 109
Cause code
Unknown
Cause of Death
Died of tubercular disease of the bladder and complete necrosis of the bladder wall 1
Died of tubercular disease of the bladder and complete necrosis of the bladder wall, in hospital in Durban, having contracted bladder trouble from drinking water from wells poisoned by the Germans during GSWA service
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Private
Regiment
Durban Light Infantry 5
Later renamed Royal Durban Light Infantry (1935)
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
UDF 24,809
Union Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,879
Locality
Unknown
Cemetery
STELLAWOOD CEMETERY, DURBAN, KZN
Grave Reference
Unknown
Unit History
Role at time of death
Infantry
Status
Active Citizen Force
Notes

Born Kristiania, Norway, 12/1/1895; baptised Uranienborg, Kristiania, Norway, 19/1/1895; a cabinet-maker by profession; served with the Durban Light Infantry in German South West Africa 1914-1915. His brother Thorolf John Bolling Hillestad (PersonNumber 41463), a rifleman in the SA Mounted Rifles, died accidentally while out shooting on 9/5/1914.

Research notes


Dayne Skolmen (ROH story 6 Feb 2017, family history from his own great-grandfather's life story book): confirms cabinet-maker occupation and bladder illness from poisoned well water (independently matching Jordan's WWI ROH account added 3 Sep 2026); adds that Olaf returned to Durban, underwent an operation, and died shortly after. Follow-up email confirmed exact DateDeath 2 Oct 1916 (already on record) and provided a photo of his gravestone at Stellawood Cemetery, shared with his relative Ragnar Andreas Bolling Hillestad (d. 24 Dec 1980, not investigated -- no indication of military service). Gravestone reads "Erected by Audrey and Frank".

Citations
Unknown
External References
  • K.M. Jordan — DLI research (ABW / WWI ROH)
    K.M. Jordan, Durban Light Infantry: WWI Roll of Honour ("Work in Progress" draft, July/Aug 2026; email to John/Bobby, 3 Sep 2026). Local file data/jordan_dli_wwi_roh_2026-08.pdf (Downloads: "1. Durban Light Infantry WWI ROH - July, Aug 2026.pdf"). WWI ROH #65 Private HILLESTAD, Olaf Nicolay Bolling, age 21, Durban Light Infantry: Born Kristiania, Norway 12/1/1895; a cabinet-maker; served with the DLI in GSWA 1914-1915; contracted bladder disease from drinking well water poisoned by the Germans; died of tubercular disease of the bladder in hospital in Durban. Buried/commemorated: Stellawood Cemetery, Durban, KZN. (Also, on Durban Light Infantry & Durban Cenotaph WWI Memorials.) Not previously on the ROH -- his brother Thorolf (PersonNumber 41463, died 9/5/1914, SA Mounted Rifles) was already on file.
Stories 1
by Dayne Skolmen on 06 February 2017
Olaf Nicolay Bölling Hillestad died at the young age of 21 years and 9 months after contracting serious bladder trouble from drinking water from the wells which had been poisoned by the Germans, when he served with the Durban Light Infantry in the German West campaign. He returned home to Durban and had to undergo an operation. He died shortly afterwards. In Olaf's estate file his occupation is listed as: Cabinet Maker. Olaf was born in Kristantia, Norway.
Dedications

No dedications have been added yet.