George Binney
Encyclopedia
Sir George Binney (1900–1972) was a noted arctic explorer and Royal Naval Reserve
commander. During World War II
, he led or was involved in efforts, including Operation Rubble
, to procure supplies of Swedish ball bearings
for Britain.
) Binney organized and was secretary to the 1921 Oxford University Spitsbergen
expedition, subsequently leading both the 1923 Merton College Arctic Expedition, and the 1924 Oxford University Arctic Expedition. He was a pioneer in the use of seaplanes for Arctic survey work and wrote up this experience in his 1925 book With Seaplane and Sledge in the Arctic. The Avro 504
seaplane used was supplied by A. V. Roe and Co., Ltd.
and its 180-h.p.
Lynx air-cooled engine provided by Armstrong-Siddeley. (For The Avro Arctic see The Avro 504O). Subsequent to these expeditions he worked in the arctic for the Hudson's Bay Company
(1926–1930). During this time he wrote The Eskimo Book of Knowledge (published by the Hudson's Bay Company), a book explaining a rather colonial view of the wider world to the Inuit
.
(Iron and Steel Control). He was to assist in the acquisition of steel, machine tools, and most notably ball-bearings for the UK's armament programme. Following the outbreak of war and the isolation of Sweden after the German invasions of Norway and Denmark, Binney organised a series of blockade-running operations. This included Operation Rubble
, Operation Performance, Operation Bridford, and Operation Moonshine.
in 1944. He was awarded the Patron's Medal
of the Royal Geographical Society
in 1957 ("For contributions to Arctic exploration ... the pioneer use of the air survey technique … and to the development of the university exploring expedition").
Binney, George (1929) Hudson Bay in 1928. Geographical Journal, Vol 74, No 1, pp. 1–27
Binney, George (1931) The Eskimo Book of Knowledge, London, Hudson's Bay Co.The book is mentioned in Helen DeWitt's
novel The Last Samurai
.(p 242)
While, H. (1972) Sir George Binney. The Times, 13 September.
Royal Naval Reserve
The Royal Naval Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve , a reserve of civilian volunteers founded in 1903...
commander. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he led or was involved in efforts, including Operation Rubble
Operation Rubble
Operation Rubble was a British blockade running operation in which five Norwegian merchant ships escaped from Sweden to Britain. The ships involved were Norwegian steamships Elizabeth Bakke , John Bakke , Tai Shan , Taurus and the Ranja...
, to procure supplies of Swedish ball bearings
Ball bearing
A ball bearing is a type of rolling-element bearing that uses balls to maintain the separation between the bearing races.The purpose of a ball bearing is to reduce rotational friction and support radial and axial loads. It achieves this by using at least two races to contain the balls and transmit...
for Britain.
Arctic exploration
Whilst still an undergraduate (Merton College, OxfordMerton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
) Binney organized and was secretary to the 1921 Oxford University Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. Constituting the western-most bulk of the archipelago, it borders the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea...
expedition, subsequently leading both the 1923 Merton College Arctic Expedition, and the 1924 Oxford University Arctic Expedition. He was a pioneer in the use of seaplanes for Arctic survey work and wrote up this experience in his 1925 book With Seaplane and Sledge in the Arctic. The Avro 504
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
seaplane used was supplied by A. V. Roe and Co., Ltd.
Avro
Avro was a British aircraft manufacturer, with numerous landmark designs such as the Avro 504 trainer in the First World War, the Avro Lancaster, one of the pre-eminent bombers of the Second World War, and the delta wing Avro Vulcan, a stalwart of the Cold War.-Early history:One of the world's...
and its 180-h.p.
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
Lynx air-cooled engine provided by Armstrong-Siddeley. (For The Avro Arctic see The Avro 504O). Subsequent to these expeditions he worked in the arctic for the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
(1926–1930). During this time he wrote The Eskimo Book of Knowledge (published by the Hudson's Bay Company), a book explaining a rather colonial view of the wider world to the Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
.
Sweden
In 1939 Binney took up a post as the Swedish representative of the UK Ministry of SupplyMinistry of Supply
The Ministry of Supply was a department of the UK Government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply. There was, however, a separate ministry responsible for aircraft production and the Admiralty retained...
(Iron and Steel Control). He was to assist in the acquisition of steel, machine tools, and most notably ball-bearings for the UK's armament programme. Following the outbreak of war and the isolation of Sweden after the German invasions of Norway and Denmark, Binney organised a series of blockade-running operations. This included Operation Rubble
Operation Rubble
Operation Rubble was a British blockade running operation in which five Norwegian merchant ships escaped from Sweden to Britain. The ships involved were Norwegian steamships Elizabeth Bakke , John Bakke , Tai Shan , Taurus and the Ranja...
, Operation Performance, Operation Bridford, and Operation Moonshine.
Honours
Binney was knighted in 1941 and awarded a Distinguished Service OrderDistinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in 1944. He was awarded the Patron's Medal
Gold Medal (RGS)
The Gold Medal are the most prestigious of the awards presented by the Royal Geographical Society. The Gold Medal is not one award but consists of two separate awards; the Founder's Medal 1830 and the Patron's Medal 1838. The award is given for "the encouragement and promotion of geographical...
of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
in 1957 ("For contributions to Arctic exploration ... the pioneer use of the air survey technique … and to the development of the university exploring expedition").
Selected publications
Binney, George (1925) With Seaplane and Sledge in the Arctic - The account of the 1924 Oxford Arctic Expedition, London, Hutchinson & CoBinney, George (1929) Hudson Bay in 1928. Geographical Journal, Vol 74, No 1, pp. 1–27
Binney, George (1931) The Eskimo Book of Knowledge, London, Hudson's Bay Co.The book is mentioned in Helen DeWitt's
Helen DeWitt
Helen DeWitt is a novelist.DeWitt grew up primarily in South America , as her parents worked in the United States diplomatic service...
novel The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai (novel)
The Last Samurai was the first novel by American writer Helen DeWitt.-Plot introduction:The Last Samurai is about the relationship between a young boy, Ludo, and his mother, Sibylla...
.(p 242)
Other sources
The Papers of Sir George Binney,University of Cambridge (Accessed July 2011)While, H. (1972) Sir George Binney. The Times, 13 September.