Henry Armstrong Binmore

Lieutenant-Commander Henry Armstrong Binmore (19 April, 1888 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Brixham, Henry Armstrong Binmore was the son of a Royal Navy Naval Instructor, Henry Colmer Binmore.

Binmore was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1910.

His early work in submarines was compromised by health issues. On 15 May 1912 while in command of A 12, he was admitted to Haslar Hospital with rheumation. On 19 June, he was found fit, having been appointed in command of B 3 despite his being in hospital, on 4 June. Sickness found him again on 5 September, when he was diagnosed as debilitated after a bout of pleurisy and admitted to Plymouth Hospital. In October, the diagnosis was described as a lumbar abscess. He remained in Plymouth Hospital until being declared fit on 25 November, 1912. He married Elsie May Hodgess in Plymouth five days later.

Binmore spent nearly a year on barrack duty in Pembroke from the turn of 1913 until December.

Great War

Binmore served in Lysander as first Lieutenant until he was superseded on 8 February, 1915, suffering from a nervous breakdown. It was hoped to quickly appoint him in command of T.B. 11 on 15 February, but this was cancelled as he was admitted to Chatham Hospital and diagnosed with neurasthenia. On 8 March he was found fit and he was appointed in command of T.B. 20 on 16 March.

On 22 March, 1916, T.B. 20 collided with T.B. 19 and Binmore was blamed for not having assured himself that his officer of the watch was competent to take charge.

On 5 November, 1917, Binmore was appointed to Wakeful, to take command upon her commissioning. His time in her was to be brief, as on 24 November Wakeful and Ursa collided and the Admiralty concluded that it was in part due to Binmore being unfamiliar with the unspecified port in which the collision occurred. He was superseded in command of the ship two days later to take up command of Pylades.

Binmore was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April, 1918.

Binmore left Pylades when he was appointed in command of the destroyer Tara on 5 November, 1918.

Post-War

Binmore was appointed in command of the Modified "W" Class destroyer Whitshed on 15 May, 1919.

Binmore was appointed in command of the destroyer Sportive of the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla on 15 July, 1921. Captain (D) Fremantle reported that he was disappointed in Binmore's results, with the efficiency and appearance of the ship deteriorating under his command. He was dismissed the ship on 16 March, 1923, having been severely reprimanded for stranding the destroyer. He was sent back to Britain in Watchman.

Binmore was placed on the Retired List for non-service on 14 March, 1926.

World War II

Binmore was called up to serve with the Royal Canadian Navy, starting in November 1939 in Halifax Dockyard. In April, 1942 he traveled to Washington, D.C. for work with the B.A.D.. In December, he was appointed to Asbury to serve as Barracksmaster and Mail Officer. Binmore's appointment was terminated on 4 March 1943 and he reverted to the Retired List the following day.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Wilfrid B. Pirie	Captain of H.M.S. A 12 15 Sep, 1911 – 4 Jun, 1912	Succeeded by Francis J. H. Dawson
Preceded by Gerald E. B. Carter	Captain of H.M.S. B 3 4 Jun, 1912 – 26 Sep, 1912	Succeeded by John A. Gaimes
Preceded by The Hon. Francis L. W. Vernon	Captain of H.M. T.B. 20 16 Mar, 1915 – 23 May, 1916	Succeeded by James C. Collie
Preceded by Ambrose T. N. Abbay	Captain of H.M.S. Garry 23 May, 1916 – 2 Jan, 1917	Succeeded by Frederick H. G. Dalrymple-Hamilton
Preceded by Colin A. G. Hutchison	Captain of H.M.S. Laverock 18 Jan, 1917 – 5 Nov, 1917	Succeeded by Maxwell A. C. Ritter
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Wakeful 5 Nov, 1917 – 26 Nov, 1917	Succeeded by Somerville P. B. Russell
Preceded by Somerville P. B. Russell	Captain of H.M.S. Pylades 26 Nov, 1917 – 5 Nov, 1918	Succeeded by Richard C. A. Littleton
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Tara 5 Nov, 1918 – 24 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by Joseph B. Newill
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Whitshed 15 May, 1919 – May, 1921	Succeeded by George A. Scott
Preceded by Charles H. Knox-Little	Captain of H.M.S. Sportive 15 Jul, 1921 – 16 Mar, 1923	Succeeded by Donal S. McGrath