Leslie (Lazarus) was born on 6 January 1914 in Hackney, London to Polish born father Maurice and London born mother Esther nee Permutt and he had a younger brother Henry and younger sister Semele Myra.

In 1921, the family lived at 2 Rowhill Mansions, Rowhill Road in Clapton, London and Maurice was listed as a market clerk and produce merchant in Leadenhall Market, London. In 1929, Maurice set up his own produce merchant company, M.B. Tobias & Co. based at Market Buildings, 29 Mincing Lane in London.

Philip trained as a solicitor’s managing clerk and worked at 2 Bloomsbury Street, London before he enlisted into the Royal Fusiliers. Philip’s records state that he was wounded in Italy on 6 June 1944 and succumbed to his injuries on 2 September 1944.