Who was Leslie Leister?

Born on 13th August 1894 in Parkes, New South Wales to Sarah Jane Whiteman (nee Way), Leslie’s birth was registered under the name Jack Walsh Whiteman but his father was not named on the birth certificate. Leslie was born illegitimately between his mother’s first marriage to Robert Whiteman (who died in 1884) and her second marriage to John Young in Melbourne just six weeks after giving birth to baby Jack.

Sarah Jane had family support as her mother assisted at Jack’s birth in the family home in Bogan Street in Parkes. There was no doctor, nurse or midwife present. Not long afterwards, it appears that Sarah left her newborn baby in Parkes with her mother and travelled to Melbourne where she married John Young - just six weeks after baby Jack’s birth.

Sarah Jane’s mother died the following year on 7th April 1895 while Sarah Jane, herself, died in Victoria just before baby Jack’s 4th birthday. Jack appears to have then lived in Parkes with his maternal aunt Eliza and - after their marriage in 1896 - her husband, Robert Duncan Leister. They had no children of their own. It is not known when “Jack Whiteman” became “Leslie Leister” but the Leisters acknowledged Les in various records as their adopted son and nephew. As a result of a query from an insurance company to the army, it seems that Les may also have been known as “Jack Walsh”, there being a policy for him in that name.