Alexis was born in 1923 in Sri Lanka to Philip and Florence née Elliot. He had two sisters Beryl and Helen. Their father Philip worked as a music department manager in Sri Lanka. The family returned to England in 1931 and Alexis then attended Harrow County school where he was known for his music ability. He then attended the University of St Andrews where he was listed as an Air Ministry student from Apr-Sep 1941. In 1939 the family were living at 7 Roxborough Court, Lowlands Road, Harrow and Philip is listed as working as a piano tuner.

Alexis was the pilot of Halifax JN948 which departed RAF Pocklington on a night raid to Aulnoye to bomb railway installations. The aircraft crashed close to Dourlers, France killing all the crew.

Nav, Robert Johnstone Blake,151084
F/E, Ronald Frank Collier, 1384914
A/B, James Robert McClelland, RCAF, J/88610
A/G, Robert Baillie Russell, 1822851
W/Op, Leonard Francis Webb, 1601171
A/G, David Band Robertson, 1567775