Leslie Scott Latham was born on 13 June, 1879 in Fitzroy to Thomas and Janet Latham (nee Scott) of Ivanhoe. He was educated at Scotch College and commenced a Bachelor of Arts at Melbourne University in 1897, residing at Ormond College. After completing his B.A. Leslie commenced studying Medicine , graduating with a MB. BS in 1904. He did his residency at the Melbourne Hospital then established a general practice in Ivanhoe. In 1907 he completed his Doctorate in Medicine. He joined the AAMC Reserves becoming an Honorary Major. On January 6, 1908, Leslie married Ida Harriet Wilson, daughter of Dr. J Wilson, Principal of Presbyterian Ladies College, then located in East Melbourne.

1914 Electoral rolls show he and his wife living at 174 George Street, East Melbourne. Aged 37 years, practising as a physician, Dr. Latham enlisted for service on 15 September, 1916. He embarked form Melbourne on the Kashga, arriving at Suez on 7 October 1916. Two weeks later he commenced work at the 14th AGH in Abbassia. By May 1917, Dr. Latham suffered the first of a number of debilitating illnesses which severly limited his capacity to serve as a doctor. He was diagnosed with Bronchitis and transferred to the Convalescent Hospital in Alexandria for a month. On 13 June, 1917 he rejoined the 14th AGH in Abbassia. Early July he became ill with tonsillitus and and again was transferred to the Convalescent Hospital, Alexandria. He was then diagnosed with myocarditis from which he was unable to recover to a level where he could resume active service. Late August, 1917 he was invalided back to Australia arriving late September.

Bu 1919 Dr Latham and his wife had moved to Kew where he remained until his death in 1950. As deatiled in the attached RACP Roll document, he was an eminent doctor who held extensive committe roles both in medicine and classics, and with his old school Scotch College and Melbourne University.