Son of Professor Charles E. Lewis, Professor of Greek at the South African College, Cape Town and Elizabeth Tryphena Lewis, of 21, Park Rd., Cape Town, South Africa. Born in 1889 he was educated at the South African School and College, and graduated from Cape University with honours in Zoology in 1909. He came into residence as Research Student in Zoology in 1911 and graduated in 1914. Lewis was a good cricketer and was in the College eleven in 1912 and 1913 when his batting average was just over 30. He also rowed in the 2nd Lent boat in 1912 when it reached the 2nd division for the first time. On leaving College in 1913 he received an appointment as Demonstrator in the Imperial College of Science, South Kensington. In May 1915, he was gazetted to the Royal Berkshires, and in the following May he was awarded the Military Cross. On Christ's College Boat Club War Record