Harry Viener
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{{Infobox military person
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| name = Harry Viener
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1868|12|26|df=y}}
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|1947|5|7|1868|12|26|df=y}}
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| serviceyears = 1901–1926
| rank = Air Commodore
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| unit = Royal Navy Chaplaincy Services
Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch
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| battles = World War I
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Harry Dan Leigh Viener, CBE, UCd'I (26 December 1868 – 7 May 1947) was an eminent Anglican Chaplain in the first half of the 20th century. In 1918, he joined the fledgling Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch as its first Chaplain-in-Chief.
Early life and education
File:White House, Poulton-le-Fylde.jpg, Lancashire]]
Viener was born on 26 December 1868 in Blackpool, England,[http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Blackpool/christchurch/baptisms_1865-1887.html Baptisms at Christ Church in the Parish of Blackpool]"Who was Who" 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 {{ISBN|978-0-19-954087-7}} and initially lived at The White House, the family home, in nearby Poulton-le-Fylde.{{Cite book |title=The Malvern College Register 1865-1914: Edited for the Old Malvernian Society |publisher=W. H. Lovell |year=1915 |pages=174}} He was educated at Malvern College, then an all-boys public school in Malvern, Worcestershire. He studied at St John's College, Oxford. In 1890, he was awarded a Casberd exhibition.{{cite news|title=University Intelligence: Oxford|work=The Morning Post|issue=36699|date=29 January 1890|page=4}}
On 5 October 1882, he was commissioned into the 1st (Oxford University) Volunteer Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, as a second lieutenant; nicknamed the Oxford University Volunteers, this battalion was the precursor to the Oxford University Officers' Training Corps.{{London Gazette |issue=26331 |date=4 October 1892 |page=5562 }} He resigned his commission on 25 March 1893.{{London Gazette |issue=26385 |date=24 March 1893 |page=1845 }} From 1892 to 1899, he was a schoolmaster and private tutor.
Ordained ministry
Viener was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1899 and as a priest in 1900.Jackson's Oxford Journal (Oxford, England), Saturday, 16 June 1900; Issue 7683. (1493 words). Ordinations Lichfield He served his curacy at St Peter's Church, Walsall, in the Diocese of Lichfield.
On 12 November 1901, Viener was commissioned as a chaplain of the Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service (RNCS).{{London Gazette |issue=27376 |date=12 November 1901 |page=7292 }} The RNCS does not give ranks to its chaplain and so while he served with the Royal Navy, Viener simply held the appointment Chaplain.
On 11 October 1918, he joined the fledgling Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch as its Chaplain-in-Chief and was granted the relative rank of brigadier-general.{{London Gazette |issue=31112 |date=7 January 1919 |page=370 }} In 1920, he was granted the relative rank of air commodore.{{London Gazette |issue=32017 |date=13 August 1920 |page=8410 }} He retired from the military on 25 October 1926, and was succeeded as Chaplain-in-Chief by Robert Hanson.{{London Gazette |issue=33215 |date=26 October 1926 |page=6824 }}
After serving 25 years as a military chaplain, he returned to civilian ministry. From 1927 to 1934, he was Rector of St Nicholas' Church, Chawton, in the Diocese of Winchester. He retired from full-time ministry in 1934.Crockford's Clerical Directory 1940-41 Oxford, OUP, 1941
Later life
Personal life
Honours
Following the 1908 Messina earthquake, Viener was appointed an Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy "in recognition of valuable services rendered by them at the time of the earthquake in Southern Italy in the year 1908".{{London Gazette |issue=28599 |date=16 April 1912 |page=2702 }}[http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/colonial/messina_earthquake_awards.htm Messina Earthquake Awards] On 10 October 1919, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) "in recognition of distinguished services rendered during the War".{{London Gazette |issue=31592 |date=7 October 1919 |page=12525 |supp=y }} During his time as Chaplain in Chief, he was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to the King (KHC).
References
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{{S-ttl|title=Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force|years= 1918–1926}}
{{S-aft|after=Robert Edward Vernon Hanson}}
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{{RAF Chaplains-in-Chief}}
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Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Honorary chaplains to the King
Category:Royal Air Force Chaplains-in-Chief
Category:World War I chaplains
Category:People from Blackpool
Category:People educated at Malvern College
Category:Alumni of St John's College, Oxford
Category:19th-century British Army personnel
Category:Royal Air Force generals of World War I
Category:Military personnel from Lancashire
Category:Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry officers