Desmond Cassidi
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir Desmond Cassidi GCB
(born 26 January 1925) was Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
.
in 1938. 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.
He became Commanding Officer
of 820 Naval Air Squadron
in 1954 and of HMS Whitby
in 1960. He went on to be Assistant Director of Naval Plans (Warfare) in the Ministry of Defence
in 1964 and Commanding Officer of HMS Undaunted
in 1967. In 1970 he returned to the Ministry of Defence as the Director of Naval Plans.
He became Commanding Officer of HMS Ark Royal
in 1972 and Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers and Amphibious Ships in 1974. He went on to be Director-General Naval Manpower and Training in 1975 and Flag Officer Naval Air Command in 1978. He then became Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
in 1979 and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
in 1982. He retired in 1985.
He lives near Langport
in Somerset
.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(born 26 January 1925) was Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Portsmouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the post.-History:...
.
Naval career
Cassidi joined the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1938. He served in HMS Cumberland
HMS Cumberland (57)
HMS Cumberland was a County class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy that saw action during the Second World War.-Career:Cumberland served on the China Station with the 5th Cruiser Squadron from 1928 until 1938, returning to the UK in March 1935 for a refit...
and HMS Hardy
HMS Hardy (1936)
|HMS Hardy was the flotilla leader for the H-class destroyers, built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1930s. During the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 the ship spent considerable time in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict...
with the Iceland Patrols and Russian Convoys during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and also took part in the Normandy landings.
He became Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of 820 Naval Air Squadron
820 Naval Air Squadron
820 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier based squadron formed in April 1933 with the transferral of the Fairey III aircraft from 405 Flight Royal Air Force to the Fleet Air Arm...
in 1954 and of HMS Whitby
HMS Whitby (F36)
HMS Whitby was a Whitby-class or Type 12 anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom....
in 1960. He went on to be Assistant Director of Naval Plans (Warfare) in the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
in 1964 and Commanding Officer of HMS Undaunted
HMS Undaunted (R53)
HMS Undaunted was an U-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F53.-Operations against the Tirpitz:...
in 1967. In 1970 he returned to the Ministry of Defence as the Director of Naval Plans.
He became Commanding Officer of HMS Ark Royal
HMS Ark Royal (R09)
HMS Ark Royal was an Audacious-class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy and, when she was decommissioned in 1978, was the Royal Navy's last remaining conventional catapult and arrested-landing aircraft carrier...
in 1972 and Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers and Amphibious Ships in 1974. He went on to be Director-General Naval Manpower and Training in 1975 and Flag Officer Naval Air Command in 1978. He then became Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
Second Sea Lord
The Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command , commonly just known as the Second Sea Lord , is one of the most senior admirals of the British Royal Navy , and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments.-History:In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were...
in 1979 and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Portsmouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the post.-History:...
in 1982. He retired in 1985.
He lives near Langport
Langport
Langport is a small town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated west of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The town has a population of 1,067. The parish includes the hamlets of Bowdens and Combe...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.