Harry was born on 26 November 1900 in Doncaster, Yorkshire to Lithuanian father Samuel and German mother Anna Jacob-Firmansky and he had a brother William and two sisters Ellen and Edna. The family became naturalised British citizens in 1905. Samuel was a wallpaper dealer and served as Mayor of Doncaster 1920-1921 and was elected as an Alderman on the council in 1923. He again served as Mayor for 1936-1937 and was made a Freeman of the Borough in 1937.

In 1927 Harry married Ettie Landau who was born in Zimbabwe and they had two children Jacqueline and John. In 1939, they lived at 75 Bawtry Road, Doncaster and Harry was listed as a wallpaper and paint dealer. He was also a Squadron Leader in the Air cadets. In 1940 Ettie left England with the children and became a citizen of the United States.

Harry died at Princess Mary Hospital, RAF Halton Camp from a coronary thrombosis.