Henry was born 16 May 1915 in Holborn, London to Joel and Rebecca née Oesterman. Henry had two younger sisters Julia and Hannah. Julia’s first husband Eric Hockman died on 15 February 1941 serving in the Pioneer Corps.

In 1939, Henry was working as a bespoke tailors cutter and was in the Civil Air Guard based at Luton Airport. His mother Rebecca was an inpatient at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital where she died a few months later.

Henry married Marianna Lobatto in Hendon in 1941 a few months before he was killed.

Henry was the wireless operator on Wellington W5386 which departed RAF Binbrook on an operation to Bremen. The aircraft was thought to have been shot down by night fighters. All the crew were killed and are buried in Hamburg Cemetery.

Pilot Officer Robert Arthur Lomax
Sergeant Horace Edward Meadows
Pilot Officer Alistair Fulton Struthers
Sergeant Patrick Brian Neil Cleburne
Sergeant Henry Nykerk
Sergeant Percy Thomas Relf