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Toler was a hard man to find - for reasons known only to the enumerators at the various census' that took place in the United Kingdom in Victorian England they were rather insistent that he was a Towler and other equally confusing variations of his correct name. Still, that's part of the fun of research

William Henry Toler

Gunner, Prince Alfred’s Own Cape Artillery – Anglo Boer War
Sergeant, 8th South African Horse – WWI

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasp Cape Colony to 255 Gnr. W. H. Toler, Prince Alf. O. Cape A.
- British War Medal to Sjt. W.H. Toler, 8th S.A.H.
- Victory Medal to Sjt. W.H. Toler, 8th S.A.H.

William Toler was born in Chelsea on 28 December 1875 and was baptised in the Parish of Christ Church, Camberwell, London on 25 February 1877, the son of Thomas Toler, a Commercial Traveller, and his wife Sophia born Brecy. The family lived at 1 Ruby Street at the time. A sister Mary Isabella Toler was born in January 1879 but passed away later that year leaving William an only child.

Four years later, at the time of the 1881 England census he was a visitor in the home of Rose Seymour at 6 Rosa Villas in Fulham. His parents were with him as was one Walter Brecy, an 11 year old relative of his mothers and 24 year old Mary Nightingale a servant girl. Mr Toler was, at the age of 43, pursuing the occupation of News Agent.

The London County school admission records show young William saw at least the bare bones of an education – on 4 April 1887 he was admitted as a pupil at St. Andrew’s School in Lambeth having been at school in Crown Road, Fulham before this where he attained a Standard III pass. His residential address at the time was 35 Tenison Street, Waterloo Road.

At some point in the latter stages of the 19th century he took the decision to emigrate to South Africa which is where we find him at the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War. This was a war fought between the two Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State and Great Britain. Initially it didn’t involve units from the far-flung regions of the Cape Colony but instead focused on Natal and the Northern Cape. Gradually this changed as the Boers made incursions into the Eastern Cape and parts of the Western Cape.

Toler must have been resident in the western part of the Cape Colony for it was with the Prince Alfred Own Cape Artillery, a Cape Town based unit that he enlisted with no. 255 and the rank of Gunner. On 16 October 1899, five days after the outbreak of the Boer War, Prince Alfred’s Own Cape Artillery was mobilised, and pitched camp on Green Point Common in Cape Town. The P.A.O.C.A. had six 15-pounder guns at their disposal but no horses to convey them. Initially they were hauled by hand to the goods station at Cape Town where the 121 strong N.C.O.’s and men met them.

By 20 November both the advance party of 20 men and the main body had reached De Aar. Here the battery was split up with two guns ready to depart for Naauwpoort and the remainder put in position on the adjacent hills around De Aar. Toler must have been in the Left section which remained primarily in the Cape Colony in a supportive artillery role.

Toler took his discharge sometime before the end of the war and qualified for the award of the Queens Medal with the clasp to the Cape Colony. Things on the home front weren’t going as well – on Thursday 13 June 1901 his father Thomas was admitted to the Infirmary at the Workhouse in Lambeth.

Aged 65 he had been living at 65 Russel Street but had been reduced to impoverished circumstances. He was to die later that year and, in a bittersweet reminder of the cycle of life – his first-born, Jessie Sophia was baptised in Bloemfontein where he was employed as a Clerk, on Christmas Day 1901. His mother Sophia must have come out to stay with him as she was a witness to the baptism.

A second child, Winifrid Eileen was baptised in the Parish of St, Mary the Less in Jeppestown, Johannesburg on 15 January 1908. The family had moved to Johannesburg from Bloemfontein and were resident at 2 Belaaerts Street. Toler was still a Clerk with the Central South Africa Railways. His third and last child Mildred Isabel, was baptised in the Cathedral of St. Albans in Pretoria on 5 October 1912. The family were living at 34 Tulleken Street in Pretoria at the time.

12 December 1915 was a red-letter day in his life. This was the day he attested for service with the 8th South African Horse for service in German East Africa at Potchefstroom. The War to end all Wars had been raging since August 1914 and the campaign to conquer German South West Africa had prevailed with Toler having played no part in the action. He had, instead, bided his time and now, at the age of 40, was ready to do his bit.

The forms he completed confirmed that he had been born in London and that he was married to Edith Toler, resident at 56 Wilhelmina Street, Troyville in Johannesburg (as can be seen they tended to move around quite a bit). Still employed as a Clerk on the newly formed South African Railways he claimed prior service with the Royal West Surrey’s (Volunteers) of 4 years along with 1 years’ service with the City of London Artillery and then 1 year with the Prince Alfred’s Field Battery (sic).

Having been passed as Fit by the Army Doctor he was assigned no. 5578 and the rank of Private with D Company of the 8th South African Horse. Promotion cam swiftly – to Corporal the very next day and to acting Sergeant on 12 July 1916. Having arrived in German East Africa he was soon immersed in the action and, as an almost guaranteed occupational hazard, soon succumbed to the ravages of tropical diseases which decimated the men of European extraction deployed in a country saturated with malaria, black water fever and other pestilences.

Toler was laid low by an Undiagnosed Complaint at Himo on 4 April 1916 and treated at a nearby Field Ambulance before being transferred to Nairobi on 8 April. At Voi a day later he was finally diagnosed with Malaria and sent back to the 2nd South African General Hospital at Nairobi where he remained until 22 April before being discharged to duty.

His recovery was short-lived as, on 25 May 1916 he was treated in the Field Ambulance at Himo before being sent to the 14 Casualty Clearance Station with Malaria. On 21 July 1916 at M’buyuni he was back in hospital before being admitted at Dar es Salaam on 7 November 1916. This was to be his last admittance abroad – he was repatriated to South Africa aboard the H.M.S. “Guilford Castle” disembarking at Cape Town on 9 December 1916 and being admitted straight away to No. 1 General Hospital at Wynberg. After treatment he was discharged and granted 2 months recuperative leave.

Toler was discharged from the army at Maitland on demobilisation on 22 February 1917 and awarded Silver Badge no. 7423 and Kings Certificate No. 6982. His British War and Victory Medals were posted to him on 16 February 1922. His Proceedings on Discharge form rated his Military Character as Very Good and credited him with service of 1 year and 84 days.

William Toler retired as a Railway Clerk to his last abode – 38 Nile Street, Kensington, Johannesburg. He passed away at the Gracedale Nursing Home in Johannesburg on 16 November 1941 at the age of 65 and was survived by his wife Edith (born McGennis) and his three daughters. His estate was a large one – he bequeathed £2018 to his wife.

Thanks Rory.......

Prince Alfred's Own Cape Artillery, a unit that I did not have on my list...... Learn something new every day......

You have inspired me to do some research myself.....

A father and his three sons, who all served the crown is one way or another, at least as much as I can do from here......

Mike