[2] He enlisted in the 1st AIF in July 1915 and was wounded in action in France in 1917, promoted several times in the field, with 4th Field Artillery Brigade in 1916, transferred as instructor to England in 1918; while on leave in 1919 studied plant breeding at Cambridge University; was promoted to the rank of Captain,[3] which he relinquished in 1920 and proceeded to America for further experience in plant breeding.
[2] He was a member of the Roseworthy Old Scholars' Association, and present at their 1926 reunion, A. C. Pritchard presiding due to the principal, W. J. Colebatch being interstate.
[4] In May 1927 he was appointed Principal of Roseworthy Agricultural College, succeeding Colebatch, who had been seconded to the Irrigation Commission.
He announced the early implementation of annual farmers' schools, which were a feature of Victorian agricultural colleges, and very popular: attracting as many as 150 adult students, and bringing in additional instructors.
Counsel for the students included as contributory causes: It would appear Birks was trying to assert the type of discipline he remembered from his prep school days, quite different from that of previous managements.