Lewis was born on 15 December 1914 in King’s Norton, Warwickshire to Russian born parents Jacob and Esther nee Levine and was one of eleven children. His father worked as a tailor. Lewis married Helen Levy in September 1939 in Stepney and the register of that year states that they were living in Blessington Road, Lewisham. Lewis worked in an aluminium foundry making aircraft parts and Helen was a shorthand typist. Their son was born in 1941 and sadly Helen died soon after his birth.

Lewis was on board Sunderland ML880 which departed RAF Pembroke Dock at 18.10 to carry out an anti-submarine patrol in the Bay of Biscay. It was due back at base at 07.25 on 12 June, but failed to return. No signals were received from the aircraft and it was assumed that it was shot down by either enemy surface craft or U boat, and that the crew were all lost at sea. A German broadcast was heard the following day claiming that two Sunderland’s had been shot down in the Bay of Biscay area. The crew members of ML880 were:

W/Op, Sergeant John Frederick Bleach, 1454007.
A/G, Sergeant William Henry Carr, 995871.
W/Op A/G, Sergeant Cyril Oscar Channing, 1337189.
Pilot, Flight Sergeant Harold James Chester, 964552.
Nav, Flying Officer Lincoln Clapcott Dadds, 417622.
W/Op A.G, Warrant Officer John Andrew Foubister, 551883.
A/G, Flight Lieutenant David Hywel Griffiths, 100547.
Pilot, Flying Officer Ronald Lancelot Griffin, 151219.
F/E, Sergeant William Patterson, 1082935.
Sergeant Lewis Segaloff, Fitter Mechanic Engines/Air Gunner.
Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mervyn Edward Slaughter, J/7616, RCAF.