Harry became a pupil teacher at the West Bromwich Board School, then qualified as a schoolteacher.
[1] In his youth, Brockhouse was a supporter of the Liberal Party, and was a prominent local nonconformist.
He became interested in Georgism, and founded a local Democratic Club to promote the principle, then when he was twenty-seven, he heard a talk by Caroline Martyn which convinced him to become a socialist.
He joined the Independent Labour Party (ILP), and served for many years as president of its West Bromwich branch.
[1] Brockhouse's married Amy Brocklehurst, who was active in the Women's Social and Political Union.