John Yeowell
“Stubba”
ᛉ April 10, 1918 - September 25, 2010 ᛦ
John Leslie William Yeowell, best known as Stubba, was born on April 10th, 1918. Little was known about his early life and family, although we do know that he was a prominent member of the Royal Stuart Society. Yeowell rose through the ranks of that organization, eventually becoming Vice President. He was also said to have been seventh in line to ascend the throne should the Jacobite lineage be restored to power.
Yeowell is believed to have served in the Spanish Civil War with General Eoin O’Duffy’s ‘Green Shirts.’ Although his military service is not easily researched, it is known that he did serve two tours with the French Foreign Legion. His first term was served in the 77th Indian infantry brigade in Burma from 1943 to 1944. His second term was served during the Foreign Legion’s involvement in the first Indo-China War from 1946 to 1954. After this second term with the Foreign Legion, Yeowell retired from military service.
It was after his retirement from the military that Yeowell discover Ásatrú. He first met John Gibbs-Baily, best known as Hoskuld, in the late 1950s. Gibbs-Bailley, having been around different Ásatrú groups for much of the previous three decades, introduced Yeowell to the ideas and religious teachings of Ásatrú. The two men stayed in close contact throughout the 1960s, and in 1973, they formed the Committee for the Restoration of the Odinic Rite. This group, often called the Odinic Committee, formed the basis for what would later become the Odinic Rite.
It was during these early days of the Odinic Committee that Yeowell came to adopt the name Stubba. He derived this name from Anglo-Saxon chieftain Stybba who had ruled the area near Whitechapel where Yeowell lived.
The Odinic Rite also set out to establish their doctrine. With the aid of Stubba, the Runic Age dating system was created. This calendar system was designed only for use within the Odinic Committee because of practical reasons, but was based on the age of the oldest Runic inscriptions discovered at that time. The Runic Age, according to this early calendar, began in 250 BCE.
Another of Stubba’s contributions to Ásatrú came in the form of the Nine Noble Virtues. Hoskuld had compiled a list of eight virtues that all Ásatrúar should live by, but it was Stubba’s influence and idea that brought the number up to the more sacred nine. These are the same Virtues that we observe today.
In the late 1970s, due to the failing health of Hoskuld and his wife, Stubba became the outward facing partner. This move also made him the first Director of the Court of Gothar. Shortly after this, publication of The Raven Banner began. This magazine was the first Ásatrú publication of its type in the United Kingdom.
In 1980, feeling that the Odinic Rite had been restored, the name of the organization was changed and became known as simply The Odinic Rite. Stubba remained at the helm of the Odinic Rite, leading the Court of Gothar until 1989. Upon his retirement, a schism was formed leading to an attempt to form a new Odinic Rite. In the early 1990s, Stubba issued a formal apology to the Court of Gothar.
Nearing the end of his life, Stubba began a new endeavor. With the help of fellow Odinist Osred, Stubba began to write and record Ásatrú music. He was also writing a book on the history of Ásatrú. It is known that in 1999, he wrote a letter to the Australian Government requesting information about and photographs of Alexander Rud Mills. From the letter it can be assumed that the manuscript was nearly completed, although no copy of it is known to exist.
Stubba did publish several books during his lifetime, however. Most notable of these are ‘This is Odinism,’ ‘Hidden Gods, The Period of Dual Faith,’ ‘The Book of Blots,’ and ‘Odinism, Christianity, and the Third Reich.’
Stubba passed away on September 25th, 2010. His funeral was conducted by the Royal Stuart Society. Following that, he was cremated and given an Ásatrú funeral at the White Horse Stone.
Although the landscape of modern Ásatrú continues to grow and evolve, there are many lessons that we can take from the life and legacy of Stubba. John Yeowell was a man who served his Folk. Not only in a martial capacity, but also as a spiritual leader. By bringing Ásatrú to the forefront and raising awareness of the unique birthright of our Folk, Stubba helped stoke the fires of the Folk Soul for generations to come. He was also a man deeply interested in his ancestry and worked to preserve their legacy. For this life of service and the impact his legacy makes, even today, the Asatru Folk Assembly honors Stubba with a Day of Remembrance on his birthday.
Hail Stubba!