Lewis was born on 3 August 1916 in Shoreditch, London to Belarus born, naturalised British citizen father Hyman, a wood turner, and Ukrainian born mother Leah Eliansky and he had two older brothers and two younger sisters. Lewis trained as an electrical engineer and in 1939 he was working as an assistant radio engineer.

Lewis joined the Navy and was based on the repair ship H.M.S. Diligence. He died on 21 June 1945 at Welsh Harp Lake in Hendon. His death certificate states that he died from asphyxia due to drowning when he was found dead in the water whilst bathing. Accidental death.