 Backhouse transferred to the corvette HMS "Comus" on the Pacific Station in October 1895 and, having been promoted to sub-lieutenant on 15 March 1898 and to lieutenant on 15 March 1899, he joined the battleship HMS "Victorious" in the Mediterranean Fleet in November 1899.After attending the gunnery school HMS "Excellent", he was posted as gunnery officer to the battleship HMS "Russell" in the Mediterranean Fleet in February 1903 and then to the battleship HMS "Queen" in Mediterranean Fleet in April 1904, before returning to HMS "Excellent" to join the directing staff in July 1905.He became gunnery officer in the battleship HMS "Dreadnought" in the Channel Fleet in August 1907 and, having been promoted to commander on 31 December 1909, he rejoined the directing staff at HMS "Excellent" in February 1910.