Sir Edward Ashmore | |
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Sir Edward Ashmore
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Born |
Queenstown, Ireland |
11 December 1919
Died | 28 April 2016 | (aged 96)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1938–77 |
Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
Commands held |
Chief of the Defence Staff First Sea Lord Commander-in-Chief Fleet Western Fleet HMS Blackpool HMS Alert |
Battles/wars |
Second World War Cold War Third Cod War |
Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Beckwith Ashmore, GCB, DSC (11 December 1919 – 28 April 2016) was a senior Royal Navy officer. He saw active service in the Second World War and later commanded two frigates before achieving high command in the Navy. He served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in the mid-1970s and in that role he advised the incoming Labour government on a major defence review and on the implications of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. He went on to be Chief of the Defence Staff, serving briefly in a caretaker capacity following the death of his predecessor.
Born the son of Vice Admiral Leslie Haliburton Ashmore by his marriage to Tamara Vasilevna Schutt, and brother of Vice Admiral Sir Peter Ashmore, who was the Master of the Household to HM the Queen from 1973 to 1986, Ashmore was educated at various schools including Yardley Court in Kent and then at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in September 1933 and was posted to the cruiser HMS Frobisher in May 1937 and then, having been promoted to midshipman, to the battleship HMS Rodney in September 1937. He transferred to the cruiser HMS Birmingham on the China Station January 1938 and was promoted to sub-lieutenant on 1 September 1939.