James Dey
English prelate / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Dey, DSO (14 October 1869 – 8 May 1946) was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of the Forces from 1935 to 1946.
James Dey | |
---|---|
Vicar Apostolic for Great Britain, Military | |
Church | Roman Catholic Church |
Appointed | 13 April 1935 |
Predecessor | William Keatinge |
Successor | in abeyance |
Other post(s) | Titular Bishop of Sebastopolis in Armenia (1935–1946) |
Orders | |
Ordination | 17 February 1894 |
Consecration | 2 June 1935 by Arthur Hinsley |
Personal details | |
Born | 14 October 1869 Walsall, Staffordshire, England |
Died | 8 May 1946(1946-05-08) (aged 76) |
Nationality | English |
Alma mater | St Mary's College, Oscott |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1903–1929 |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel (British Army) Group Captain (RAF) |
Unit | Army Chaplains' Department Chaplains Branch |
Battles/wars | First World War |
Awards | Distinguished Service Order (1917) Mentioned in despatches |
Dey attended seminary at Oscott College and was ordained to the priesthood in 1894. He then spent the next seven years as a schoolteacher and then headmaster. In 1903, he left his school to become a military chaplain and was commissioned in the Army Chaplains' Department, British Army. He served mainly in South Africa, but with the outbreak of the First World War, he served in France on the Western Front. He was then once more posted to southern Africa, to the South West Africa campaign. He ended the war as vicar general to William Keatinge, the first Vicar Apostolic for Great Britain, Military, and having been awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
After the end of the war, Dey transferred to the Chaplains Branch of the newly created Royal Air Force, and was appointed principal Catholic chaplain. He retired from the military in 1929, and was appointed rector of Oscott College. In 1935, he was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Great Britain, Military, in succession to Keatinge, and he was subsequently consecrated as Titular Bishop of Sebastopolis in Armenia. He died in office, aged 76.