David Devenney

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The Revd. Dave Devenney is a Church of Scotland Royal Navy Chaplain, notable for being one of the handful of Commando Trained chaplains.

Devenney was born in 1957 and his first job was as a policeman in Glasgow.^[1] He then joined the Royal Marines, gaining his green beret and serving as a section commander in 42 Commando in the Falklands during the Falklands War.^[2]

On leaving the Forces he undertook theological training and was ordained in the Church of Scotland, serving as the minister of Aboyne and Dinnet Church, Deeside, from where he led a pilgrimage to the Falkland Islands 20 years after the conflict. Amongst other events he took a service where the family of Staff Sgt Chris Griffin, killed in a "friendly fire" incident, laid a wreath at his grave at Blue Beach war cemetery and put down a stainless steel cross, surrounded by stones from the beach near their home in Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. He also baptised Denzil Connick, secretary of the South Atlantic Medal Association, on the summit of Mount Longdon, where he had his leg blown off by an Argentine shell.^[3]

He left Aboyne in December 2002 to become a Royal Navy chaplain, serving with Royal Marine Commandos.^[4]

In 2006 he led the Commando Training Centre's team in the Spean Bridge Commando Speed March competition^[5] and in 2007 he led a pilgrimage to Port-En-Bessin in Normandy "to commemorate the outstanding military achievement" of 47 Royal marines Commando in taking the village on 6 and 7 June 1944.^[6]

Whilst serving at the de-compression unit at Bloodhound Camp, Episkopi, his ministry extended not just to the Royal Marines returning from duties in Afghanistan, but to 'Spike', a rescue dog.^[7]