VR. JOHN .1. O'MAHONEY, at piesent Senior Catholic Chaplain, Southern Command, has been appointed to succeed Mgr. Edward V. Stevens, V.G., as Principal Army Chaplain. His appointment takes effect from September 2 Mgr. Stevens who has served since 1939 and who belongs to the Portsmouth diocese, is retiring owing to ill-health.
Born in Ireland, Fr. O'Mahoney was educated at the Marist College, Middlesbrough, and Ushaw. He was ordained in 1938 and joined the R.A.Ch.D. at the outbreak of the Second World War. He served with the 23rd and 18th Divisions and was a prisoner of war in Japanese hands from 1942 to 1945.
After the war, Fr. O'Mahoney served with the 7th Armoured Division in Germany and was at the War Office from 1952 to 1956. He was Senior Catholic Chaplain in the British Army of the Rhine from 1956-57 and in the Middle East Land Forcesfrom 1957 to 1960 when he took up his appointment with Southern Command.
Fr. O'Mahoney will be Vicar General for the Army to the Bishop-in-Ordinary to H.M. Forces, Archbishop Mathew.