[1][2] Airey was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and entered the army as an ensign of the 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot in 1821.

[1] He became captain in 1825, and served as aide-de-camp on the staff of Sir Frederick Adam in the Ionian Islands (1827–1830) and on that of Lord Aylmer in North America (1830–1832).

[1][3] In 1854 he was given a brigade command in the army sent out to the East, from which, however, he was rapidly transferred to the onerous and difficult post of Quartermaster-General under Lord Raglan, in which capacity he served through the campaign in the Crimean War.

[1] He was reported upon most favourably by his superiors, Lord Raglan and Sir James Simpson[4] and for his performance was made a major general in December 1854 and was awarded a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB).

[1] Airey demanded an enquiry on his return to England, which took place under Lord Seaton and which cleared him completely, but he never recovered from the effects of persecution from his critics.