Leslie was born on 18 June 1911 in Shoreditch, London to Lewis and Rose nee Lyons and he had one younger brother Ronald. Leslie married Joyce Sorensen in 1939 in Battersea. The 1939 Register shows that Leslie was living with Joyce’s family and was working as a hire purchase clerk. Their daughter Jill was born in 1940.

His headstone states he died due to war service. Leslie’s death certificate states: ‘Bronchial Carcinoma.’ He died at home at 171 South Lambeth Road.