Born Ottawa in 1930, Chief Warrant Officer Leslie MacBride joined the Canadian Army in Kingston at age 18. Completing his basic Field Engineer training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC, he was then sent to Camp Borden in early 1949 where he completed a Group 1 Instructors Course. Returning to RCSME, he taught Physical Training for two years and then became a Group 2 Instructor. Promoted to Sergeant in 1953, he was posted to 3 Field Squadron and served seven months in Korea in 1954.
He returned to Canada with 3 Field Squadron to Esquimalt, BC and was soon posted in 1956 to I Staff in Calgary where he instructed Militia personnel in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer and Kimberly, BC. Promoted to Staff Sergeant, he was then posted to RCSME in 1959 for a two-year tour as an instructor. This was followed by a return to I Staff in 1961 but this time in Toronto at Fort York Armoury with 2nd Field Engineer Regiment. Promoted to W02 in 1963, he continued his I staff employment when posted to Vancouver at Jericho Beach. From Vancouver, he deployed with the United Nations Emergency Force in Egypt for seven months as the Company Sergeant Major of the Canadian Works Company.
Returning to Canada at the outbreak of the Six-Day War in June 1967, he was posted to the School of Instructional Techniques in Clinton ON as an instructor for three years then was posted back to Chilliwack with the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering. Promoted to Chief Warrant Officer in 1973, he was posted to 1 Field Squadron as their Squadron Sergeant Major for a year. He was then posted to National Defence Headquarters in 1974 with the Director Military Engineer Operations for four years.
Completion of this Ottawa tour saw him posted back to CFSME where he held the appointment of School Chief Warrant Officer (1979-81). He then returned to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa in 1981 for his last four years of service looking after military bridging equipment. During that period he held the Acting Appointment of Canadian Military Engineer Chief Warrant Officer (1982-83).
CWO Leslie McBride, CD died in Chilliwack BC on 8 July 2020 at age 90 years.