World War II Service
During World War II, he worked in military intelligence. Birley was appointed to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers Special List (a list of officers not formally attached to a unit) as a second lieutenant on 25 August 1939, just prior to the outbreak of war. In the New Years Honours of 1943 Birley, by then promoted to the rank of captain and temporary major, became a member of the military division of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). On 24 May 1945 Birley, since promoted to temporary lieutenant-colonel, received permission from the war office to accept the award of the Polish order of Polonia Restituta fourth class (officer's cross). On 16 January 1948 he received permission to accept the American award of the Legion of Merit third class (officer). On 8 September 1953 Birley, whose permanent commission during the war had only been that of a lieutenant and who held the war substantive rank of major, was granted the permanent rank of major backdated to 1 January 1949. Major Birley reached the age limit (50 years) for service on 12 January 1956 and retired from the army on that date, being granted the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel.
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