George Leslie Makin was born in North Melbourne, Victoria, on 4 April 1894, and was educated at St. Alban's State School. He had served for three years with the 51st Regiment of the Citizen Forces at Albert Park by the time he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 18 August 1914.

Makin was posted to the 5th Infantry Battalion, and embarked on-board HMAT Orvieto on 21 October 1914. He served at Gallipoli until October of 1915, when he was taken ill with enteric fever. After spending time in hospital on Lemnos, he was eventually evacuated to England, where he was hospitalised for several weeks. He re-joined his battalion in June 1916, by which time they were fighting on the Western Front, in France.

Makin wrote many letters home during his service, often expressing homesickness and worry for his mother. He also wrote of the trying conditions he faced in France, and was hospitalised with illness on several other occasions. Despite these difficulties, he was promoted a number of times, eventually being promoted to lieutenant on 9 September 1916.

On 25 August 1918, Makin was leading his company in an attack at St. Martin's Wood, when he was badly wounded. He was admitted to the 3rd Field Ambulance, before being transferred to the 61st Casualty Clearing Station, and finally to the 8th General Hospital in Rouen, France where he succumbed to his wounds on 8 September 1918. George Leslie Makin is buried at St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen.