18 Facts About John Youens

John Youens served as Chaplain-General to the Forces from 1966 to 1974.

John Youens trained for the priesthood at Kelham Theological College, a theological college that, unusually for the time, took non-graduates.

John Youens was ordained a deacon in the Church of England in 1939 at Southwark Cathedral.

John Youens volunteered to join the military near the start of World War II.

John Youens was commissioned in the Royal Army Chaplains' Department, British Army, on 2 July 1940 as a Chaplain to the Forces 4th class.

John Youens suggested the formation of battle-school to teach chaplains additional skills; this was acted upon and chaplains received additional, specialised training in the latter parts of the war.

John Youens remained in the forces after the end of the war.

John Youens's first posting was as senior chaplain of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

John Youens was appointed senior chaplain to the Third Infantry Division.

John Youens was promoted to Chaplain to the Forces 2nd class on 20 May 1953.

John Youens noted the military's role at that point in the Cold War was as a forces in defence of peace.

John Youens succeeded Ivan Neill who later became Provost of Sheffield Cathedral.

In 1978, John Youens appeared before a Magistrate having been charged with 'insulting behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace'.

John Youens argued that he was in fact unconsciously exercising his left hand; he had undergone surgery on it two years before to cure Dupuytren's contracture and he needed to regularly exercise the hand to keep the circulation going.

John Youens was cremated at a private service and no memorial service was held at his request.

John Youens officiated at the wedding of his son Richard in March 1972.

John Youens was killed aged 22, when Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crashed near Paris on 3 March 1974.

John Youens had been married to Piers Weld-Forester, son of Lady Moyra Butler and grandson of George Butler, 5th Marquess of Ormonde.