Max was born as Marks Morganstein on 30 September 1919 at 87 Jubilee Street in Stepney, London. His parents Lewis, a master butcher, and Leah nee Singer were both born in Poland and he had five older siblings, Ben, Isaac, Rose, Minnie and Phillip.

Little is known about Max’s life. He enlisted into the Royal Engineers on 1 September 1939 at Bethnal Green, London. Records show that he was killed in action on 4 March 1945.