Henry was born in 1889 to James Watson and Mary Fullerton Collins. In 1916 he married Jessie Olive Roberts and they had at least two children, Mavis Isobel b. Collingwood in 1917 and Iris Jessie b. Collingwood in 1920.

Henry was a labourer and gave his address as Collingwood when he enlisted in the AIF, 1^st Reinforcements, 7^th Battalion on the 13^th of September 1914, aged 25. He embarked aboard the HMAT Themistocles in December and disembarked in Egypt some time later.

After landing at Gallipoli Henry was wounded in the leg and admitted to the 3^rd Field Ambulance, Advanced Dressing Station at the end of August 1915. A few days later he was admitted to the 1^st Australian General Hospital, Egypt and after being transferred to a Convalescent Camp he embarked for Australia in October aboard the Aeneas for six months change - rigid knee.

Henry returned to Australia in late November 1915 and returned to duty in June 1916 before he re-embarked in September aboard the HMAT A14 Euripides with the 20^th Reinforcements, 7^th Battalion.

After disembarking at Plymouth, England in late October1916, Henry spent two months in hospital - unrelated to his previous wound - before he rejoined his unit in the field in March 1918. In August, Henry was again wounded in action - gunshot wound to the wrist - and was eventually admitted to the 1^st Australian General Hospital, Rouen, France, then transferred to a Convalescent Depot before rejoining his unit in the field in October. He spent some time on escort duty before he returned to England in March 1919 and embarked for home aboard the Soudan in May, disembarking in Australia in late June and was discharged from the AIF in late August.

Henry died at South Melbourne, VIC in 1944 aged 55.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour.