# Graham Binns

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Short description|British army officer}}
{{Infobox military person
|honorific_prefix = [Major General](/source/Major_general_(United_Kingdom))
|name= Graham Binns
|honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE|DSO|MC}}
|image= Major General Graham Binns CBE DSO MC (RLH).JPG
|image_size= 
|alt= 
|caption= 
|nickname= 
|birth_date= 
|birth_place= 
|death_date= 
|death_place= 
|burial_place= 
|allegiance= United Kingdom
|branch= [British Army](/source/British_Army)
|service_years= 1976–2010
|rank= [Major General](/source/Major-general_(United_Kingdom))
|service_number= 503083
|unit= 
|commands= [Joint Services Command and Staff College](/source/Joint_Services_Command_and_Staff_College)<br/>[1st (UK) Armoured Division](/source/1st_(United_Kingdom)_Division)<br/>[7th Armoured Brigade](/source/7th_Armoured_Brigade_(United_Kingdom))<br>[1st Battalion, Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire](/source/Prince_of_Wales's_Own_Regiment_of_Yorkshire)
|battles= [The Troubles](/source/The_Troubles)<br/>[Bosnian War](/source/United_Nations_Protection_Force)<br/>[Iraq War](/source/Iraq_War)
|awards= [Commander of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire)<br/>[Distinguished Service Order](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order)<br/>[Military Cross](/source/Military_Cross)
|relations= 
|other_work=
}}
[Major General](/source/Major-general_(United_Kingdom)) '''Graham John Binns''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CBE|DSO|MC}} is a retired [British Army](/source/British_Army) officer. Binns served as [General Officer Commanding](/source/General_Officer_Commanding) [1st (UK) Armoured Division](/source/1st_(United_Kingdom)_Division) and then Commandant Joint Services Command and Staff College. He had previously commanded the [7th Armoured Brigade](/source/7th_Armoured_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) (the "Desert Rats") during [Operation Telic 1](/source/Operation_Telic) when the brigade took [Basra](/source/Basra) in southern [Iraq](/source/Iraq). He is the [Honorary Colonel](/source/Colonel_of_the_Regiment) of [The Yorkshire Regiment](/source/The_Yorkshire_Regiment).

==Early life==
Graham Binns was educated at [Hymers College](/source/Hymers_College) in [Hull](/source/Kingston_upon_Hull).<ref name="Guide to Independent Schools - Hymers">{{cite web|url=http://www.schoolsguidebook.co.uk/schools/view/203/Hymers/HMC/Hymers-College-Hymers-Avenue-Hull-HU3-1LW |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421045232/http://www.schoolsguidebook.co.uk/schools/view/203/Hymers/HMC/Hymers-College-Hymers-Avenue-Hull-HU3-1LW |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2013 |title=Guide to Independent Schools |publisher=Guide to Independent Schools |accessdate=17 January 2010 }}</ref>

==Military career==
Binns was commissioned on 11 December 1976, into the General list. He was transferred to [The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire](/source/The_Prince_of_Wales's_Own_Regiment_of_Yorkshire) on 2 July 1977.<ref name="LG 15 August 1977">{{London Gazette |issue=47300 |date=15 August 1977 |pages=10588–10589  |supp=y }}</ref> He was promoted to [lieutenant](/source/lieutenant) on 11 December 1978.<ref name="LG 8 January 1979">{{London Gazette |issue=47738 |date=8 January 1979 |page=332 |supp=y }}</ref> He was further promoted to [captain](/source/Captain_(British_Army_and_Royal_Marines)) on 11 June 1983.<ref name="LG 20 June 1983">{{London Gazette |issue=49392 |date=20 June 1983 |page=8192 |supp=y }}</ref> With this regiment he saw service in Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom.<ref name="nato.int bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/kfor/structur/whoswho/cv/bio_binns_a.htm|title=Former Commander: Brigadier Binns|date=13 March 2007 |accessdate=26 May 2009}}</ref>

Between 1986 and 1988, Binns served in the [Ministry of Defence](/source/Ministry_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom)).<ref name="BIOGRAPHY - MAJOR GENERAL GJ BINNS CBE DSO MC">{{cite web |url=http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/CGSC/Events/Binns/Maj%20Gen%20Binns%20-%20Bio.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224231238/http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/CGSC/Events/Binns/Maj%20Gen%20Binns%20-%20Bio.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 February 2012 |title=BIOGRAPHY – MAJOR GENERAL GJ BINNS CBE DSO MC|publisher=usacac.army.mil|accessdate=6 July 2009}}</ref> He then attended the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in [Toronto](/source/Toronto) in 1988, after which he was posted again to [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland), where he became [Chief of Staff](/source/Chief_of_Staff) of [39th Infantry Brigade](/source/39th_Infantry_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)).<ref name="BIOGRAPHY - MAJOR GENERAL GJ BINNS CBE DSO MC" /><ref name="Commanders involved in Op Telic " /> He was promoted to [major](/source/Major_(rank)) on 30 September 1989.<ref name="LG 2 October 1989">{{London Gazette |issue=51890 |date=2 October 1989 |pages=11310–11311  |supp=y }}</ref> He was appointed a [Member of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Member_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) in 1992 "in recognition of Meritorious service in Northern Ireland."<ref name="LG 11 May 1992">{{London Gazette |issue=52918 |date=11 May 1992 |page=8167 |supp=y }}</ref>

Binns returned to The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire in 1992 to command an [armoured infantry](/source/Mechanized_infantry) company, mounted in [Warrior tracked armoured vehicle](/source/Warrior_tracked_armoured_vehicle)s, with which he served a tour in [Bosnia](/source/Bosnia) and participated in [Operation Grapple](/source/Operation_Grapple_(Yugoslavia)).<ref name="BIOGRAPHY - MAJOR GENERAL GJ BINNS CBE DSO MC" /> Binns was awarded the [Military Cross](/source/Military_Cross) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services" during this deployment.<ref name="London Gazette 26 April 1994">{{London Gazette|issue=53653|supp=y||page=6167|date=26 April 1994}}</ref>
In 1994, he spent some time as an exchange officer at the [United States Army Infantry School](/source/United_States_Army_Infantry_School) at [Fort Benning](/source/Fort_Benning), [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state)). Binns was promoted to [lieutenant colonel](/source/Lieutenant_colonel_(United_Kingdom)) on 30 June 1995,<ref name="LG 3 July 1995">{{London Gazette |issue=54091 |date=3 July 1995 |page=9195 |supp=y }}</ref> and returned to Britain to join the Directing Staff at the [Staff College, Camberley](/source/Staff_College%2C_Camberley).<ref name="nato.int bio" />

In January 1997,<ref name="BIOGRAPHY - MAJOR GENERAL GJ BINNS CBE DSO MC" /> Binns returned once again to The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire and participated in exercises in Kenya, Belize and Canada. It was during this time with the battalion that he once more saw service in Northern Ireland. In April 1999, Binns became Chief of Crisis Plans Branch, Headquarters [Allied Forces Southern Europe](/source/Allied_Joint_Force_Command_Naples) and led the team responsible for [NATO](/source/NATO) operational planning in the [Balkans](/source/Balkans).<ref name="nato.int bio" /> He was promoted to [colonel](/source/Colonel_(United_Kingdom)) on 30 June 1999, with seniority from that date.<ref name="LG 6 July 1999">{{London Gazette |issue=55543 |date=6 July 1999 |page=7301 }}</ref> He served as Chief of Staff at [HQ](/source/Headquarters) [KFOR](/source/Kosovo_Force), a NATO-led force under a [United Nations](/source/United_Nations) mandate that operated the military mission in [Kosovo](/source/Kosovo).<ref name="nato.int bio" />

Binns was promoted to [brigadier](/source/brigadier) on 31 December 2000, with seniority from 30 June that year.<ref name="LG 2 January 2001">{{London Gazette |issue=56078 |date=2 January 2001 |page=14615 |supp=y}}</ref> In January 2001, he assumed command of [7th Armoured Brigade](/source/7th_Armoured_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)),<ref name="Commanders involved in Op Telic ">{{cite web|url=http://www.operations.mod.uk/telic/biogs_old.htm|title=Brief biographical details of the senior UK commanders involved in Operation Telic|publisher=operations.mod.uk|accessdate=26 May 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525100759/http://www.operations.mod.uk/telic/biogs_old.htm|archivedate=25 May 2009}}</ref> and was involved in operations in the Balkans and the Middle East.<ref name="BIOGRAPHY - MAJOR GENERAL GJ BINNS CBE DSO MC" /> Binns' "gallant and distinguished services in the former Yugoslavia" in 2001 were recognised with appointment as a [Commander of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire),<ref name="London Gazette 19 April 2002">{{London Gazette|issue=56541|supp=y||pages=4810–4811|date=19 April 2002}}</ref> and he was awarded the [Distinguished Service Order](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order) in October 2003 for his "services whilst on operations in Iraq during the period 19 March to 19 April 2003".<ref name="London Gazette 31 October 2003">{{London Gazette|issue=57100|supp=y||page=4|date=31 October 2003}}</ref>

Binns served as Assistant Chief of Staff Commitments at [Land Command](/source/Commander_Land_Forces) until December 2005. Between this post and his next command, he attended the [Royal College of Defence Studies](/source/Royal_College_of_Defence_Studies).<ref name="BIOGRAPHY - MAJOR GENERAL GJ BINNS CBE DSO MC" /> He was appointed to the honorary position of [Deputy Colonel of the Regiment](/source/Colonel_of_the_Regiment) of [The Yorkshire Regiment](/source/The_Yorkshire_Regiment) on 6 June 2006.<ref name="LG 27 December 2006">{{London Gazette |issue= 58191|date= 27 December 2006|page=17824 |supp=y }}</ref> He was appointed [General Officer Commanding](/source/General_Officer_Commanding) [1st (UK) Armoured Division](/source/1st_(United_Kingdom)_Division) on 1 October 2006 and promoted to [major general](/source/major_general) on the same day.<ref name="LG 3 October 2006">{{London Gazette |issue=58113 |date=3 October 2006 |page=13441 |supp=y }}</ref>

Binns, having joined elements of 1st (UK) Armoured Division in Iraq where it formed HQ [Multi-National Division (South East), Iraq](/source/Multi-National_Division_(South-East)_(Iraq)), signed a [memorandum](/source/memorandum) of understanding that returned the responsibility for running the province of [Basra](/source/Basra) to local Iraqi leaders. He signed the document, along with General Mohan al-Furaiji and Governor Muhammad Wa'ili, in a disused departure lounge of [Basra airport](/source/Basra_airport).<ref name="Telegraph: Britain 'fleeing' Iraq">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1572862/Britain-fleeing-Iraq-says-Zawahiri.html|title=Britain 'fleeing' Iraq, says Zawahiri|last=Coughlin|first=Con|first2=Richard |last2=Holt|date=18 December 2007|work=The Telegraph|accessdate=26 May 2009}}</ref>

After returning to the UK in February 2008, Binns was given the honorary appointment of [Colonel-Commandant](/source/Colonel_Commandant) of [The King’s Division](/source/The_King%E2%80%99s_Division) on 10 December 2008.<ref name="LG 16 December 2008">{{London Gazette |issue=58912 |date=16 December 2008 |page=19637 |supp=y }}</ref> In 2009 he took over command of the [Joint Services Command and Staff College](/source/Joint_Services_Command_and_Staff_College).<ref>[http://www.da.mod.uk/colleges/jscsc/news/change-of-command-at-the-joint-services-command-and-staff-college/ Change of Command at the Joint Services Command and Staff College] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405163127/http://www.da.mod.uk/colleges/jscsc/news/change-of-command-at-the-joint-services-command-and-staff-college |date=5 April 2011 }} Defence Academy, August 2009</ref> He [gave evidence](/source/List_of_witnesses_of_The_Iraq_Inquiry) to [The Iraq Inquiry](/source/The_Iraq_Inquiry) about his role in the handing over of control on 15 January 2010.<ref name="BBC XXII">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12224606|title=Iraq inquiry – day by day timeline of evidence given|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=29 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="BBC XXVI">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8462822.stm|title=Iraq inquiry hears evidence behind closed doors|date=15 January 2010|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=29 January 2010}}</ref>

==Later life==
In June 2010, Binns became [chief executive](/source/chief_executive) of [Aegis Defence Services](/source/Aegis_Defence_Services), a [private military](/source/Private_military_company) and [security company](/source/Private_security_company).<ref>{{cite web|title=Graham Binns|url=http://www.aegisworld.com/staff/graham-binns/|website=Aegis World|publisher=Aegis Defence Services Limited|accessdate=7 December 2015}}</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11521579 "The rise of the UK's private security companies", BBC, 2 November 2010]</ref>

In 2011, Binns was appointed to the honorary position of [Colonel of the Regiment](/source/Colonel_of_the_Regiment) of [The Yorkshire Regiment](/source/The_Yorkshire_Regiment).{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

In June 2016, Binns remarked in a BBC report on the aftermath his campaign of in Iraq that "I don't think we had a coherent plan in the longer term. The coalition hadn't thought through how we were going to operate in the aftermath of the war fighting..."<ref name="Basra Aftermath">{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36586972 | title=Why a mother had to visit the place her son died | publisher=BBC Panorama | date=2016-06-29 | accessdate=2016-06-29 | author=Corbin, Jane}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Binns is married to Jennie. They have four children: Sophie (born September 1985), Thomas (born May 1988), Rosemary (born March 1990) and Matilda (born June 1992).<ref name="nato.int bio" />

Binns enjoys many sports including [golf](/source/golf), [sailing](/source/sailing) and [orienteering](/source/orienteering).<ref name="nato.int bio" /><ref name="BIOGRAPHY - MAJOR GENERAL GJ BINNS CBE DSO MC" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[John Cooper](/source/John_Cooper_(British_Army_officer))}}
{{s-ttl|title=[General Officer Commanding](/source/General_Officer_Commanding) [1st (UK) Armoured Division](/source/1st_(United_Kingdom)_Division)|years=2006–2009}}
{{s-aft|after=[Adrian Bradshaw](/source/Adrian_Bradshaw_(British_Army_officer))}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[Jonathan Shaw](/source/Jonathan_Shaw_(British_Army_officer))}}
{{s-ttl|title=[General Officer Commanding<br>Multi-National Division (South East), Iraq](/source/Multi-National_Division_(South-East)_(Iraq))|years=August 2007 – February 2008}}
{{s-aft|after=[Barney White-Spunner](/source/Barney_White-Spunner)}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[Neil Morisetti](/source/Neil_Morisetti)}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commandant of the [Joint Services Command and Staff College](/source/Joint_Services_Command_and_Staff_College)|years=2009–2010}}
{{s-aft|after=[Ray Lock](/source/Ray_Lock)}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Binns, Graham}}
Category:Living people
Category:British Army major generals
Category:Recipients of the Military Cross
Category:Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire officers
Category:British Army personnel of the Iraq War
Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
Category:People educated at Hymers College
Category:NATO personnel in the Bosnian War
Category:British military personnel of the Troubles (Northern Ireland)
Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Graham Binns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Binns) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Binns?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.