Leslie George William CAUST

Leslie George William Caust

Leslie George William Caust was born on 19 January 1889 in the small township of Summertown, nestled in the picturesque Adelaide Hills of South Australia. This era marked a time of rapid growth and change in the region, with South Australia expanding its agricultural and viticultural industries, thanks to its fertile soils and temperate climate. Leslie’s parents, Francis James Caust, aged 25, and Annette Kennings, aged 27, were part of this dynamic landscape, likely engaged in local farming or community life typical of rural South Australia during the late 19th century.

Leslie came of age during a transformative time globally and locally. The dawn of the 20th century brought technological advancements, but also the looming shadow of World War I. Like many young Australian men of his generation, Leslie may have been influenced by the nationalistic fervour and sense of duty that swept the country. In 1919, shortly after the end of the war, he married Eva Janet Dunstone on 16 December in Port Adelaide—a bustling maritime hub crucial for trade and migration. Their union symbolised hope and renewal in the post-war years, a time when Australia was healing from the profound losses of the Great War.

The couple had four children – Margaret, David, Gwyneth and Leslie – raising their family during the interwar period marked by the Great Depression and, later, the challenges of World War II. These events would have shaped their lives, from economic hardships to the ever-present worry of global conflict. Despite these trials, Leslie and Eva’s family flourished, rooted in the resilient spirit characteristic of Australians during those tumultuous decades.

Leslie passed away on 14 October 1954 in South Australia at the age of 65, having witnessed both world wars, the Great Depression, and the post-war boom that began to reshape Australia into a modern society. He was laid to rest in Mitcham, South Australia, leaving behind a legacy woven into the fabric of the nation's history—a testament to the endurance and adaptability of those who lived through one of the most dynamic periods in modern history.