Leslie was born with the surname Edelstein on 26 February 1914 in Camberwell, Surrey to Reginald (Edelstein) and Hilda nee Motta of Kingston, Jamaica and he had an older brother Trevor. In 1911, the family were living in Dulwich employing two servants. Reginald was working as an advertising agent and travelled regularly back and forth to Jamaica. Leslie also worked as an advertising agent and in 1934, aged nineteen he travelled to Jamaica where he met American born Ethel Bonitto Hart. They married in 1937 in Camberwell and their daughter Susan was born in February 1939. Leslie enlisted in 1940.

Leslie was the wireless operator on Wellington Z8420 which departed from RAF Binbrook at 23.53 on a night operation to bomb Duisburg. The aircraft was shot down at 02.30 by night fighter Obit. Ludwig Becker of 6/NJG2 and crashed at Spierdijk, Holland killing all the crew.

A/G, Harry Robert Hamilton, RCAF, R/64416

Pilot, John Charles Douglas Langley, 45429

W/Op, Kenneth Sampson Revell, 1380776

Obs, Leo West, 1256886