Louis was born on 11 June 1923 in Mile End Old Town, London to Polish father Jack Abraham, a managing director of a property company and London born mother Annie nee Marks, the daughter of a woollen merchant, and he had two younger brothers, Harold, who went on to become a Professor Consultant doctor in infectious diseases, and Maurice, who both used the surname Lambert.

Louis attended the Jewish Secondary school in London and went on to study economics. He enlisted in 1942 and served in Italy from October 1943. Louis died from his wounds on 17 June 1944 at Città della Pieve, Perugia in Umbria and is buried in Orvieto War Cemetery, Italy.