Edward Ashmore
| Sir Edward Ashmore | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 December 1919 Queenstown, Ireland |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1938 - 1977 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands held | HMS Alert HMS Blackpool Western Fleet Fleet |
| Battles/wars | World War II Cold War Third Cod War |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Cross Mention in Despatches |
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Beckwith Ashmore GCB, DSC (born 11 December 1919) is a former senior Royal Navy officer. He served as the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of the United Kingdom and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces.
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Educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Edward Ashmore joined the Royal Navy in 1933.[1]
He served in World War II in the Home Fleet and British Pacific Fleet and was on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, from 1944 to 1945.[1]
After the War he became Assistant Naval Attache in Moscow and then was appointed Communications Office for 3rd Aircraft Carrier Squadron in 1950.[1] He commanded HMS Alert from 1952 to 1953 and HMS Blackpool during 1958.[1]
He was appointed Director of Naval Plans in 1960 and Commander of British Forces in the Caribbean in 1963.[1] In 1966 he became Assistant Chief of Defence Staff, then in 1967 Flag Officer Second in Command of the Far East Fleet and then in 1969 Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.[1]
In 1971 in the rank of Admiral, he was the last Commander-in-Chief Western Fleet for the last two months of the command's existence in 1971.[1] He was appointed as the first Commander-in-Chief Fleet, as a result of the amalgamation of the Far East Fleet and the Western Fleet into the a single Fleet Command.[1] In this role, for the first time in the history of the Royal Navy, he was the sole officer responsible for the preparation and operation of all the ships, submarines and aircraft of the navy.
Between 1974 and 1977 he served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff.[1] In February 1977, he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet and was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff, serving in this role for only a short period before retiring at the end of August 1977.[1]
[edit] Later career
In retirement he has served as Governor of Suttons Hospital in London and was at one time Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889).[2]
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- The Battle and the Breeze, Edward Ashmore (autobiography)
- The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 - 1995, Heathcote T. A., Pen & Sword Ltd, 2002, ISBN 0-85052-835-6
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Peter Hill-Norton |
Vice Chief of the Naval Staff 1969–1971 |
Succeeded by Sir Terence Lewin |
| Preceded by Sir William O'Brien |
Commander-in-Chief Western Fleet 1971 |
Succeeded by Post Disbanded |
| Preceded by New Post |
Commander-in-Chief Fleet 1971–1973 |
Succeeded by Sir Terence Lewin |
| Preceded by Sir Michael Pollock |
First Sea Lord 1974–1977 |
Succeeded by Sir Terence Lewin |
| Preceded by Sir Andrew Humphrey |
Chief of the Defence Staff 1977–1977 |
Succeeded by Sir Neil Cameron |
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