Leslie Cornelius Cull

Leslie Cornelius Cull

Les Cull bottom right - courtesy Joy Poad
Les Cull in light suit - courtesy Joy Poad
Personal Information
Date of Birth	16 Feb 1905
Place of Birth	Albany, Western Australia
Death	11 Dec 1953, aged 48
Age at Enlistment	37 years, 1 month
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall ; 154lbs 69.853 kg ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Farmer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Eighth road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs. Winifred Elizabeth Cull
Military Information
Reg Number	W67674
Date of Enlistment	22 Mar 1942
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	2nd (Fremantle) VDC Battalion
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia

Leslie Cornelius Cull

Headstone Information
Date of Birth	1910
Age at Death	43 years
Additional Names	Winifred Elizabeth Cull
Transcription	In Loving Memory of Leslie Cornelius Cull. Beloved husband of Winifred, fond father of Ron, Evelyn & Joy. Passed away 11th Dec 1953 aged 48 years. "Loving memories". Winifred E. Cull. Loved Wife of Les, loving mother of Ron (dec.), Evelyn & Joy. Passed away 29th April 1994 aged 84 years. "Loving memories".

Early Life

Leslie's birth was registered at Albany in 1905. His father was Cornelius Cull and he married Frances Louisa McGrath in 1904. Leslie was the oldest child. His sister Rubeana Frances was born in 1906, his brother Melville Eric in 1908, and Ivy Edna was born in 1916.

Pre War

Les Cull married Winnie (Winifred) Westlake in the late 1920s. The couple had their first of three children in 1930 (Ronald), followed in later years by two daughters, Evelyn and Joy. The Cull family had an orchard and farm on Eighth Road, in the old locality of Westfield. Winifred died on 29 Apr 1994 in Narrogin aged 85.

Electoral Roll entries: 1931 - 1943 at Eighth road, Armadale, labourer

Community Contribution

Leslie was an active member of the Australian Workers Union in the 1920s and 1930s.

War Service

Leslie enlisted in the Volunteer Defence Corps at Armadale on 22 Feb 1942, and was allocated to the 2nd (Fremantle) VDC Battalion. On 17 Dep 1942 Leslie was promoted Corporal in 3rd Platoon , HQ Company. On 7 Feb 1944 Leslie was discharged at his own request.

Local VDC members in front of Armadale Hall - courtesy Joy Poad

Post War

Before his untimely death in 1953, Les enjoyed his life of farming and lived to see his eldest son turn 23 and his youngest daughter turn 12. He enjoyed a regular darts game on Saturday mornings at the Narrogin Inn, and sold homemade butter to patrons at the pub. The family's fruit produce was picked up each Wednesday by the Mathews' Bros haulage business. Following his death, the family sold the orchard and moved to a house on Fifth Road in Armadale, constructed by the eldest child, Ron. Les' children each married other locals of the district, with Ron marrying Sue Callaway, Evelyn marrying John Green, and Joy marrying Barry Poad.

PASSING OF MR. L C. CULL

It is with deep regret that we have to report the sudden death or Mr. Leslie Cull while working on his property at 8th Road Armadale. He was 48 years old.

He was well known in the Armadale district as an orchardist and market gardener and his well tended citrus trees and vegetables belied his poor state of health.

He had suffered with heart trouble for some years but never let this condition get the better of him, he was extremely popular and hard working.

Mr. Cull has resided in 8th Road ever since his parents took up residence in the district when he was 17 years old. He took up his own property after his marriage, in 8th Road. He has known most of his neighbours since their school days.

Mr. Allan Brown, Mr. J Allen. Mr. W. Alderson, Mr. Noel Ramm, Mr. H. Cross, Mr. I. Barbarich. Mr. J. Russell and Mr. Max Joiner all close friends of the deceased paid their last respects when they acted as pall bearers at his funeral on Monday, Dec. 13 at the Kelmscott cemetery. Over 200 relatives and friends attended the funeral,

Our deepest sympathy to Mrs. Cull snr and Mrs. L. Cull his wife, her two daughters Evelyn and Joy, and only son Ronnie.

Notes

Discrepancy with date of birth - military records give year as 1905 and 1908, burial records as 1910. Burial record for Winifred gives her age at death as 84, WA Cemeteries Board records show her dying in Narrogin aged 85.