Henry Carbines was born at Aintree in 1898, the son of John Henry Carbines and Annie McArthur (nee Cooban).
He had an older brother, John Cooban Carbines and younger twin sisters, Jean Susannah and Annie Isabella. In 1911 the family were living at 1 Melling Road, Aintree. Attended Longmoor Lane Council School, Fazakerley.