Alexander McLeod was born and lived in Wick, Caithness, Scotland. He was the son of Alexander and Mary Ann (Davidson) McLeod. He enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders and volunteered for Airborne Forces.

He successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway, and was posted to B Squadron, 1st Special Air Service Regiment, Army Air Corps.

He was murdered by a Nazi firing squad on 7 July 1944, aged 26 and is now buried in Rom Communal Cemetery, Southern France.