Desmond Cassidi

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Sir Desmond Cassidi
Born (1925-01-26) 26 January 1925 (age 99)
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Years of service 1938–1985
Rank Admiral
Commands held 820 Naval Air Squadron
HMS Whitby
HMS Undaunted
HMS Ark Royal
Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers and Amphibious Ships
Naval Home Command
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Admiral Sir Arthur Desmond Cassidi GCB (born 26 January 1925) was Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command.

Naval career

Cassidi joined the Royal Navy in 1938.[1] He served in HMS Cumberland and HMS Hardy with the Iceland Patrols and Russian Convoys during World War II and also took part in the Normandy landings.[1]

He became Commanding Officer of 820 Naval Air Squadron in 1954 and of HMS Whitby in 1960.[1] He went on to be Assistant Director of Naval Plans (Warfare) in the Ministry of Defence in 1964 and Commanding Officer of HMS Undaunted as well as Captain of the 2nd Frigate Squadron in 1967.[1] In 1970 he returned to the Ministry of Defence as the Director of Naval Plans.[1]

He became Commanding Officer of HMS Ark Royal in 1972 and Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers and Amphibious Ships in 1974.[2] He went on to be Director-General Naval Manpower and Training in 1975 and Flag Officer Naval Air Command in 1978.[2] He then became Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel in 1979 and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command in 1982.[2] He retired in 1985.[1]

He lives near Langport in Somerset.[3]

Family

In 1950 he married Sheelagh Marie Scott; they had one son and two daughters.[2] Following the death of his first wife, he married Deborah Marion Pollock in 1982.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Direct Art
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Debrett's People of Today 1994
  3. Admiral backs D-Day Anniversary Call Yeovil News, 4 July 2003
Military offices
Preceded by Second Sea Lord
1979–1982
Succeeded by
Sir Simon Cassels
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
1983–1984
Succeeded by
Sir Peter Stanford