Difference between revisions of "Ralph Douglas Binney"

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Revision as of 10:33, 20 November 2017

Captain (retired) Ralph Douglas Binney, C.B.E. (14 October, 1888 – 8 December, 1944) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was the brother of Thomas Hugh Binney.

Life & Career

Binney served in Swiftsure with Home Fleet, from 15 June 1904 through 10 July 1906.[1]

He was appointed to Implacable in the Mediterranean from 10 July 1906 to December 1907.[1]

Binney was appointed to the "C" Class destroyer Star on 30 June 1908[1] and was promoted to Lieutenant on 15 November, 1908.[2]

He was appointed to the "B" Class destroyer Quail 17 June 1909 for the annual manoeuvres.[1]

Binney was appointed to Blake for appointment to the River Class destroyer Itchen with the Home Fleet on 7 August, 1909.[1]

Binney served in the armoured cruiser Shannon from 1 March, 1910 to 31 April, 1911.[1] Binney joined the staff of the Inspector of Torpedo Practice for Home Fleet Battle Practice on 20 August, 1913 and then assisted the staff of the Director of Naval Ordnance in compiling Blue Books until 13 February, 1914.[1]

Binney was appointed as Gunnery Officer of London from 13 February, 1914 to 27 October, 1916.[1]

He served as Gunnery Officer of Collingwood from 5 April, 1917 to 12 February, 1919.[1]

Binney married Ruth Frances on 6 November, 1918 in Broughton Parish Church.[1]

Post War

Binney was gunnery officer in King George V from 19 July, 1919 through 31 January, 1921, being re-appointed on promotion to Commander on 31 December 1920.[1]

He was promoted to Captain upon retirement on 21 October, 1934.[1]

Death

Binney died at age 56 of injuries sustained in trying to stop "smash and grab raiders" in London who had made off with jewels valued at 3,500 pounds sterling. Binney had jumped onto the running board of the perpetrators' saloon car as they fled, but he lost this perch and was dragged under the car for a half mile and died at Guy's Hospital.

The driver of the car, a labourer named Ronald Hedley, was charged and found guilty of murder, the sentence being death by hanging. His accomplice, Thomas James Jenkins, welder, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years' penal servitude. Hedley was an experienced burglar, having been nicknamed "Silver" for repeatedly breaking into a jeweller's named Silver's in Bermondsey. The trial took six days and the two were convicted on 12 March, 1945. Hedley's subsequent appeal was dismissed by the Court of Criminal Appeals on 13 April. However, Hedley was reprieved by the Home Secretary on 26 April, two days before his planned execution on 28 April. In October, 1949 the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police appeared before the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment and stated that he believed that the key reason for the rise of armed gangs after the war had been the failure to execute Hedley in 1945.[3]

Bibliography

  • "Marriages" (Marriages). The Times. Thursday, 7 November, 1918. Issue 41941, col C, pg. 9.
  • "Naval Officer Dragged Under Car" (News). The Times. Saturday, 9 December, 1944. Issue 50012, col C, pg. 4.
  • "Obituary" (Deaths). The Times. Monday, 11 December, 1944. Issue 50013, col E, pg. 6.
  • "Funerals" (Deaths). The Times. Friday, 15 December, 1944. Issue 50017, col B, pg. 6.
  • Thomas, Donald (2006). Villains' Paradise: A History of Britain's Underworld. London: Pegasus Books. ISBN 1933648171.

Service Record

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
William R. Phillimore
Captain of H.M.S. Marshal Soult
26 Sep, 1930[4]
Succeeded by
William A. Willock
 

Footnotes

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Binney Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51.
  2. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 7.
  3. Thomas. Villains' Paradise. pp. 179-180.
  4. The Navy List. (July, 1931). p. 253.