He served at sea from 1899 until 1914, and was then aboard as a gunnery officer for the Dardanelles Campaign. Binney had been promoted to the rank of Commander by 1916, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1919. He was made Captain whilst on the China Station in 1922. He became Deputy Director of Plans at the Admiralty in 1925. He went on to be Flag Captain on in 1928, Captain of in 1932 and Chief of Staff to Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth in 1933.