Eric Birley

Eric Barff Birley (12 January 1906 – 20 October 1995) was a British historian and archaeologist, particularly associated with the excavation of the forts near Hadrian's Wall, notably at Vindolanda.

Early life and education Eric Birley was born in Eccles, Lancashire, on 12 January 1906.

He was educated at Clifton College. He then studied classics at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he obtained a double first in Mods and Greats. He was influenced in the study of history and archaeology by Michael Holroyd, his Brasenose tutor;

Career Under the direction of F. G. Simpson, Birley began excavating at Hadrian's Wall in 1927 while an undergraduate. at Birdoswald led Birley to suggest redating the Wall periods. This discovery, and Birley's redating, impacted the study of Roman Britain tremendously inasmuch as it "has formed the basis of all subsequent work on the chronology of Hadrian's Wall." His expertise and work in this field served to make Birley the founder of the "Durham School" of archaeology having attractedseveral highly-talented and influential postgraduate students to the Department, whose research has … "epitomised, and to a large degree set the agenda for, British work on the Roman military for much of the twentieth century." Often known collectively as the "Durham School," they include David Breeze (Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Historic Scotland and Visiting Professor at Durham University since 1994), Brian Dobson (Emeritus Reader at Durham University), Michael Jarrett (former Professor at Cardiff University), Valerie Maxfield (Professor at Exeter University) and John Wilkes (Emeritus Professor at the London Institute of Archaeology). 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, by now 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.

Personal life In 1934, Birley married Margaret "Peggy" Isabel Goodlet, The marriage that would last over 60 years until his death. Northumberland, on 20 October 1995, at the age of 89.

Selected publications

Birley, Eric & Devijver, Hubert (1988). The Equestrian Officers of the Roman Imperial Army, Vol. 1. Amsterdam: J. C. Gieben