Henry Norris was born on 3 January 1855 at Cawdor, near Camden, the eldest child of Daniel Norris and Annie (nee Harrod). He was baptised on 11 Feb 1855 at St John's Church of England Camden, Edward Rogers officiating.

On 3 August 1876, at the age of 21, Henry Norris joined the New South Wales Police Force at Camden. Two months later he arrived in Deniliquin in the Riverina area of NSW to take up police duties.

Henry married Isobel Scott at Deniliquin on 6 February 1878. During the 32 years Henry spent in the Riverina, he was stationed at various towns besides Deniliquin such as Balranald, Euston and Jerilderie, and his six children were all born in the area.

It was while Henry was stationed at Jerilderie that the bushranger Ned Kelly held up the entire town, including the police station on 8 Feb 1879; Henry was absent on duty elsewhere at the time and missed the action, but had his boots stolen by the gang.

When his father died in 1902, Henry travelled to Camden to attend the funeral. The Camden News, dated 29 May 1902, makes mention of the occasion: "Police Sergt. Norris, now stationed at Deniliquin, has been paying a visit to Camden recently, this being some 26 years since he visited the Camden district, although being born in the district. Sergt. Norris is the eldest son of the late Mr. Daniel Norris, of Elderslie, and is in perfect health."

About 1908, Henry moved to Windsor, in the Hawkesbury district, where he took up office as Senior Sergeant for the Windsor Police District. After six years service in Windsor, Henry finally retired from the police force. The Windsor and Richmond Gazette dated 19 June 1914 reports: "After the proceedings at Windsor Police Court had been concluded on Wednesday, the Police Magistrate, Mr. T.B. Clegg referred to the approaching retirement of Senior Sergeant Norris from the police force, which takes place on July 4th...He said..."He had always placed his cases before the court in a clear and definite manner, giving favour to neither one side nor the other. He had been a most zealous officer, and every case which had come before the court was well presented and well defined. On the other hand he had been a fair officer. As Licensing Officer Inspector he had always been zealous in his duties and always placed licensing matters befor the court in a very accurate manner.""

Mr. A. Matheson, J.P. added that "during Senior Sergeant Norris's term of office the standard of the hotels in the district had been raised very much." while Mr. G. Wheeler, C.P.S., said that "during the short time he had known Senior Sergeant Norris they had got on splendidly together. At first he did not quite understand him; but when he began to know his ways their associations had been of a very pleasant kind."

Senior Sergeant Norris, thanked the gentlemen who had spoken for their kind remarks. He had, he said, always tried to do his best. He may have offended some at times but it was in the course of his duty and that could not be helped.

On his retirement Henry was also tendered a complimentary banquet. The Windsor and Richmond Gazette dated 31 July 1914 reported: "One of the most representative gatherings of the people of the Hawkesbury district we have ever seen assembled at Host Curl's Royal Hotel, Windsor, on the 22nd instant, to do honor to Senior Sergeant Henry Norris, who has just retired from the police force, after an honorable career of just on 38 years. The occasion was to present Mr. Norris with a purse of sovereigns and an address from the citizens of the Windsor Police District, and others who had joined in, and harmony and goodwill marked the proceedings throughout.

"Mr. R.B. Walker J.P. said..."One of the most remarkable traits of Mr. Norris's character was the absence of vindictiveness. He was brusque but good at heart, and never exhibited bad feeling. When he had unpleasant duty he did it fearlessly, but was never a man to deal in paltry cases, and never did an unkind thing. To show what sort of a record he had in his department, it might be mentioned that Sen-Sergeant Norris had been granted six months' leave of absence before retiring. Then he goes out of the service on the full pay of a crown sergeant (his present rank). This pension he would enjoy for life and it would be paid to his wife or family for five years after his death. So that he must have done something out of the common to be entitled to such consideration. He was one of the men who did the police pioneering work out back when the country was sparsely settled and when lawlessness was rife. In addition to his splendid record Mr. Norris had made a lot of warm personal friends, not only here where he had spent the last seven years of his active work, but in other towns where he had been stationed."

"Mr. R.G. Ferguson, J.P. (manager Commercial Bank, Richmond), who had known Senior Sergeant Norris's parentsat Camden spoke of the great respect in which the old folk were held. He was pleased to be present to assist in doing honor to their son.

"Mr. F. Campbell, who was also acquainted with Senior Sergeant Norris's people at Camden endorsed Mr. Ferguson's tribute to them. He had known the Senior Sergeant as a young man way back in '76, when he left Camden to enter the police force at Deniliquin.

"Mr. R.B. Walker, the hon. treasurer, then read the following address which was engrossed and illuminated on parchment by Mr. E. Campbell of Richmond:

22nd July, 1914.

We, your friends resident in the Hawkesbury District (which embraces the historical towns of Windsor, Richmond, Wilberforce, Pitt Town, Riverstone, and the Shires of Colo, Baulkham Hills, and Blacktown), desire your acceptance of the accompanying purse of sovereigns as an appreciation from the public of your 38 years of efficient service in the police force (seven of which you have spent amongst us) as a token of the kindly regard in which you are held by each and all of us, and as an expression of our heartfelt wish that as you are now retiring on your well won laurels the days in store for you and yours may be one of the happiest, as a crown to the long years of service rendered by you with so much benefit to the State, and credit to yourself. Our regret at your severing yourself from public duties is merged in the satisfaction of knowing that you are continuing your residence in dear old Windsor.

Signed on behalf of the subscribers, - T.P. Waters, R.A. Neville, Edward Campbell, R.B. Walker (hon. treasurer), Frank Campbell (hon. secretary).

"On rising to respond, Senior Sergeant Norris encountered a most cordial demonstration. He said: "This is one of the hardest tasks I have undertaken for a long time, and when I look round this table I feel proud to be alive. I have been 38 years in the police force on the 3rd of next month [August 1914], and have looked forward to the day when I would retire. The time has come at last, and, I must confess, in a way beyond all my expectations, for although I have always tried to do my duty without fear or favor, I expected nothing like this. But at times in a man's life he is like the little boy that was caught stealing his mother's jam - deserves all he gets; still I can assure you I expected nothing like this, but coming unexpected one appreciates it all the more. I joined the New South Wales police force on the 3rd August 1876, and arrived in Deniliquin on the 5th of October following; and strange to say, in looking round this table to-night I see amongst the assembly a gentleman who was almost the first I saw after I arrived in Deniliquin. That is Mr. Brown, manager of the Bank of New South Wales, at Richmond, and I am pleased to have him amongst us to-night to see me end my career in the police force. His father was my first superintendant. I might also mention another coincidence which happened on my arrival at Windsor six and a quarter years ago, when the same gentleman's brother, who was then Acting Police Magistrate at Windsor, was the first to officially welcome me to this town. Thirty-two years of my service have been spent on the Riverina plains, in the hottest and driest parts of the State, from the South Australian border to Wilcannia, and across almost to Albury, being what is known in the back country as ""Hay, Hell and Booligal." and have been through Paradise to get there. I can assure you if one spends the best part of his life out there he wants a change to civilization. This I consider I have had since I came to Windsor, where I have met some real white men, amongst the whitest of them being my old friend Mr. R.B. Walker, with whom I have had many a fight in the Court House, but it never extended outside the walls. I am sorry my successor is not here to-night, but in handing you and the district over to his care I am pleased to be able to do so with a clear conscience that he will find a law-abiding lot of citizens, and a district free from crime. In thanking you for your extreme kindness to me on the eve of my retirement, I would like to mention the members of the police force whom it has been my pleasant duty to have to deal with during the six years that I have been in charge of the district, and express the wish that they will live to rise in the service, and continue to do their duty and be as loyal to my successor as they have been to me. I cannot pick any gentleman out separately to thank him for the honor of his presence here to-night, but I sincerely thank you one and all. It is my intention to remain in Windsor for some time, and I will be glad at all times to assist in anything for the welfare of the town and district. If I might be allowed to pick out one gentleman in particular who I think has honored me here to-night by his presence, it is his Worship the Mayor of Richmond, who kindly consented to preside over this gathering." (Loud applause).

"After the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" and three rousing cheers for Mr. Norris, one of the most hearty and successful functions held in Windsor was brought to a close."

Henry remained in Windsor until his death on 27 February 1925. The Windsor and Richmond Gazette dated Friday 6 March 1925 included the following obituary: "After an illness of a few weeks' duration, during which it was realised by those near and dear to him that his end was fast approaching, Mr. Henry Norris passed away at his home, Macquarie-street, Windsor, early on Friday morning. He attained his 70th birthday a few weeks before his death.

"At the time of his retirement he was believed to be the longest serving man in the police force. He was one of those men who believed in the prevention of crime, rather than stand by and see a man do wrong and then prosecute him. Relentless when he had a clear duty to perform, yet he was always merciful and by good fatherly advice he put many a man on the right track. Gruff in manner, his heart was good to the core, and he was a most conscientious police officer and citizen. After his retirement he shouldered his responsibilities as a citizen, and was one of the most enthusiastic workers in public affairs, particularly in connection with the farewells and welcome homes to the men who went to he war. Not only was he a man of good executive ability and sound judgement, but he undertook the manual work and with hammer and saw worked hard in the scheme to decorate the town for public celebrations. He was a tireless worker and in private life also he was always busy doing some job or other about his home. He was not happy unless he was doing some profitable work, and to do something for others gave him unfeigned pleasure. He was a most affectionate husband and father, and will be sorely missed by his family. He leaves a widow and three daughters, and two sons, viz.: Mrs. Dessaix, of Mosman; Mrs. H. Gillespie, of Deniliquin; Mrs. Bruce Bowd, of Wilberforce, and Henry and Arthur. Both the sons did their bit in the Great War. The remains were laid to rest in St. Matthew's C.E. cemetery on Friday afternoon, the service being conducted by Rev. N. Jenkyn, R.D. Mr. Chandler conducted the funeral."