{{Short description|Royal Navy Admiral (1925–2019)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox military person |honorific_prefix = Admiral |name = Sir Desmond Cassidi |honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB}} |image= |image_size= |alt= |caption= |nickname= |birth_date= {{Birth date|1925|01|26|df=y}} |birth_place= |death_date= {{Death date and age|2019|10|10|1925|01|26|df=y}} |death_place= |burial_place= |allegiance= United Kingdom |branch= Royal Navy |service_years= 1938–1985 |rank= Admiral |service_number= |unit= |commands= Naval Home Command<br/>Naval Air Command<br/>Naval Manpower and Training<br/>Carriers and Amphibious Ships<br/>{{HMS|Ark Royal|R09|6}}<br/>2nd Frigate Squadron<br/>{{HMS|Undaunted|R53|6}}<br/>{{HMS|Whitby|F36|6}}<br/>820 Naval Air Squadron |battles= Second World War |awards= Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |relations= |other_work= }} Admiral '''Sir Arthur Desmond Cassidi''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB}} (26 January 1925 – 10 October 2019) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command from 1983 to 1984.
==Naval career== Cassidi joined the Royal Navy in 1938.<ref name=art>{{cite web|url=http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/profiles.php?SigID=732|title=Admiral Sir Desmond Cassidi GCB|publisher= Direct Art|accessdate=16 June 2019}}</ref> Commissioned in 1943, he was promoted to sub-lieutenant in February 1944.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36590|page=3096|date=30 June 1944}}</ref> He served in {{HMS|Cumberland|57|6}} and {{HMS|Hardy|H87|6}} with the Iceland Patrols and Russian Convoys during the Second World War and also took part in the Normandy landings.<ref name=art/>
Cassidi was promoted to lieutenant in February 1946<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37487|page=1187|date=1 March 1946}}</ref> and lieutenant commander in October 1953.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=39991|page=5580|date=20 October 1953}}</ref> He became the commanding officer of 820 Naval Air Squadron in 1954. Promoted to commander on 31 December 1956,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=40977|page=363|date=15 January 1957}}</ref> he became the commanding officer of {{HMS|Whitby|F36|6}} in 1960.<ref name=art/> He went on to be assistant director of Naval Plans (Warfare) in the Ministry of Defence in 1964, Commanding Officer of {{HMS|Undaunted|R53|6}}, and Captain of the 2nd Frigate Squadron in 1967.<ref name=art/> In 1970, he returned to the Ministry of Defence as the Director of Naval Plans.<ref name=art/>
Cassidi became Commanding Officer of {{HMS|Ark Royal|R09|6}} in 1972 and Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships in 1974.<ref name=debrett>Debrett's People of Today 1994</ref> He became Director-General, Naval Manpower and Training in 1975 and Flag Officer Naval Air Command in 1978.<ref name=debrett/> He then became Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel in 1979 and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command in 1982.<ref name=debrett/> He retired in 1985.<ref name=art/>
==Family and later life== In 1950, Cassidi married Sheelagh Marie Scott; they had one son and two daughters.<ref name=debrett/> Following the death of his first wife, he married Deborah Marion Pollock in 1982.<ref name=debrett/>
Cassidi lived near Langport in Somerset.<ref>[http://archive.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/2003/7/4/ Admiral backs D-Day Anniversary Call] Yeovil News, 4 July 2003</ref>
He died on 10 October 2019 at the age of 94.<ref>[https://epaper.thetimes.com/app/THE343 Cassidi]</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=Sir Gordon Tait}} {{s-ttl|title=Second Sea Lord|years=1979–1982}} {{s-aft|after=Sir Simon Cassels}} |- {{s-bef|before=Sir James Eberle}} {{s-ttl|title=Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command|years=1983–1984}} {{s-aft|after=Sir Peter Stanford}} {{end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassidi, Desmond}} Category:1925 births Category:2019 deaths Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Category:Royal Navy admirals Category:Royal Navy officers of World War II