[2] Henry began work in Tully as a cane-cutter aged twenty-one, and soon joined the Australian Workers' Union (AWU).

[2] Encountering marxist ideas during his time as a cane-cutter, Henry eventually joined the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) in Brisbane,[4] 1931.

[2][4] After the CPA in Queensland significantly expanded during the '30s, Henry was appointed the fourth branch of the state party (ninth district),[4] “...which stretched north from Brisbane to the Torres Strait Islands” headquartered in Innisfail.

He played a prominent role in the 1935 Sugar workers' strike, which “the CPA won 'great prestige' in North Queensland,” Henry 'playing an outstanding part'.

While leader, the Communist Party elected numerous politicians, including the first ever MP to a state parliament (Fred Paterson) for Queensland (1944).