Captain WILLIAM MICHAEL TOLLNER

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OBITUARY: Natal Mercury 24.3.1931
Notable Figure Dead, Nest of Cannon, Crimea Veteran's Career, Line of Aristocrat Soldiers
Captain WILLIAM MICHAEL TOLLNER, the last survivor in Africa of the Crimean War and the man who placed the first primitive muzzle-loaders on the Durban Bluff, died at Port Shepstone during the week-end at the age of 93. He was a worthy descendant of a remarkable line of soldier aristocrats and was associated with S. African history. It is stated also that he was related to Field-Marshall Lord French.

Nest of Cannon:

It was in 1860 that Captain Tollner came out to S. Africa to re-organise this country's coast defences for the British Government. In doing this he came to Durban and installed a nest of cannon of his day on the Bluff. Incidentally, he Captained a side in the first representative Rugby match in this country in 1860, when the Cape Garrison played the Gentlemen of the Peninsula.

Captain Tollner was born at Sutton Hall, Surrey, in 1838, and following the tradition of his family, became a soldier. He want to Woolwich and was commissioned to the Royal Engineers and then served with the Royal Horse Artillery at Sebastopol. When he came out to this country he recruited in Durban for the Zulu War, and while on his way to join the forces, was recalled owing to the Isandhlawana disaster. Two of this veteran's 10 children live in Durban. One is Mr William Michael Tollner, and the other is Mrs Groom. Two daughters live in Germany and one in England, while the rest of the family is scattered throughout the Union.

Death Notice
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Source:genealogyworld