Identity
Person No.
49646
Service No.
Unknown
Last Name
First Name
Olaf Nicolay Bolling
Initials
O N B
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Unknown
Age at Death
21
Military Service
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
Unknown
Cause of Death
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
Location
Country
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.
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
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.