-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour
Memorials to Men Lost in the Sinking of Hood, 24th May 1941
Updated 17-Mar-2007

In Remembrance of
LESLIE EDGAR FRIEND

Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Rank: Lieutenant
Date Joined Hood: 1240 hours, 17 September 1940
Biographical Information: Leslie was born in 1908, the only son of Mr Edgar and Beatrice Friend of Margate. His father was a stock-broker and a partner in C.T. Pulley & Co. Leslie was educated at Dover College where he excelled in swimming. In 1931 he became a member of the Stock Exchange and later joined his father as a partner in the firm. Soon after the outbreak of war in 1939 he joined the RNVR as a Temporary Lieutenant.

Leslie married sometime in 1940 or 1941; his wife's name was Gwendoline. At that time he was serving in the Hood. In a letter to his father written from the ship on 15 May 1941 he commented on photographs of bomb damage in London, and expressed his mixed feelings on the sale of the family home. He wrote, "Although I had hoped it would stay in the family for generations, the generations do not appear likely to eventuate". Sadly, this proved true as Leslie was lost in Hood just over a week later. He was 32 years old at the time of his loss. We have no additional information.

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