Leslie Playne was born in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England on September 15, 1894, the son of Alexander Whateley Playne and Florence Elizabeth (nee Field) Playne, of Bedford, England. His sisters included sisters Nora (born 1888), Violet (born 1889), and Doreen (born 1906); and brothers Penderel (born 1894), Osman (born 1898), Norman (born 1900), Vernon (born 1902), and Courtenay (born 1903). In 1911, at the age of 15, he was a student residing in Sussex, England at the Christ Hospital School West Horsham. In February of 1912, sixteen year-old Leslie left Liverpool, England aboard the passenger ship Corsican and arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with his final destination listed as Toronto. Prior to enlisting, he was an employee of the Canadian Bank of Commerce. He enlisted on September 15 of 1914, in Sarnia, indicating he was a bank accountant and was single. At his enlistment, he recorded that he had three years previous experience, in the Officers Training Corps, England. He became a member of the Air Force, Royal Flying Corps, 16th Squadron, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. He embarked for France with the 1st Canadian Division, Infantry, C.E.F.

Leslie Playne would lose his life on March 27, 1918. In May of 1918, the Sarnia Observer received a letter reporting that the former Sarnia man was missing. Following is a portion of the Observer article:

Former Young Sarnia Bank Clerk Is Reported Missing

Lieut. Leslie Playne Pouring Shot and Shell into Enemy When Last Seen

 A letter has been received in this city, reporting that a former young Sarnia man was missing… He was reported missing March 27th. The following message was received by his parents: “Regret to inform you that Second Lieutenant Leslie Playne, R.A.S., reported missing March 27th.” Lieut. Playne, prior to his enlistment, was on the staff of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, in Sarnia, and was one of the first to respond to the call, going to England with the First Canadian Contingent, and has been in active service since the early days of the war. He returned to France on March 23rd, after a fortnight’s leave to England and had been on the firing line four days, when he was reported missing. From information received, the last seen of the heroic young officer, he was attacking German infantry with bombs and machine gun. Since then he has failed to return. There is a slight chance that he was taken prisoner and in the hands of the Germans. What ever his fate, the young man did his work nobly and fought to the last. While in Sarnia, he made a host of friends for his manly and gentlemanly ways and was esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was a lover of sports, and was actively engaged in the organization of an athletic association in Sarnia when the war broke out.

Twenty-three year old Leslie Playne has no known grave. He is memorialized on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

SOURCES: C, D, E, F, L, N, 2D