Lionel was born in 1918 in Brighton and was the son of Hyam and Rebecca nee Kinsler and had one brother named Victor.

Lionel volunteered on 6 Jun 1939 only fourteen months before his death. He was killed on 31 August 1940, when his Bristol Blenheim (T1940) was brought down by flak while engaged on a night-time raid on the Vlaardingen oil plant. His two crewmates, Wing Commander Edwards, the commanding officer of the squadron, and Sergeant Beesley, were also killed.

He had married Elizabeth Betty De Winter in April 1940 only a few months before his death.