| Sir Desmond Cassidi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 January 1925 |
| 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.
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 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]
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]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Gordon Tait |
Second Sea Lord 1979–1982 |
Succeeded by Sir Simon Cassels |
| Preceded by Sir James Eberle |
Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command 1983–1984 |
Succeeded by Sir Peter Stanford |