Cyril Asser

Captain Cyril Asser, Royal Navy (13 December, 1874 – 8 March, 1945) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

He was primarily a destroyer captain. His Service Record appears remarkably free of criticism.

Life & Career

Gained seven months' time on passing out of Britannia in December, 1889.

Asser was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in October, 1896.

On 9 April 1900, he was invalided from Phoenix, afflicted with "Chronic Diarrhœa." He was sent home by contract steamer through the Suez Canal, arriving on 21 May. He was not found fit again until mid-September.

Asser was appointed in command of the destroyer Boyne on 22 May, 1905. He was noted by Vice Admiral Noel as being "an excellent officer in cd of a destroyer."

He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1907.

He attended the Royal Navy War College as a Lieutenant from November 1905, but did not complete the course.

On 25 February, 1909, Asser was appointed in command of the destroyer Mohawk.

Great War

Asser was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1914.

Asser was almost immediately appointed as Britain's Superintendent of Contract-built T.B.Ds., where he remained until being appointed in command of the light cruiser Yarmouth on 1 July, 1918 as she transferred from the Third Light Cruiser Squadron to the Second Light Cruiser Squadron. Asser had the honour of commanding Yarmouth when she participated in the surrender of the German High Sea Fleet on 21 November, 1918.

Post-War

Asser was superseded in command of Yarmouth on 1 March, 1919. One month later, he was given his last naval appointment, as Captain in charge of Ships for disposal at Devonport, to remain there "until the number of such ships has been considerably reduced." It seems this work went on even past Asser's own disposal date, as he was superseded in the position on 2 April, 1921. There is no mention of further work for him, and he idled until being placed on the Retired List at his own request on 5 June, 1922.

Asser died at Beech, Alton, Hants., of a cerebral hemorrhage while in a coma, on 8 March, 1945.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Herbert N. Hunter	Captain of H.M.S. Fairy Mar, 1901 – 13 Feb, 1902	Succeeded by Ernest E. Parker
Preceded by George V. W. Carey	Captain of H.M.S. Decoy 14 Feb, 1902 – 1 Jul, 1902	Succeeded by Henry R. Heathcote
Preceded by Charles P. Mansel	Captain of H.M.S. Fame 1 Jul, 1902 – 1 Jan, 1903	Succeeded by Cyril Asser
Preceded by Robert G. Corbett	Captain of H.M.S. Janus 1 Jan, 1903 – 17 Nov, 1903	Succeeded by John A. Gregory
Preceded by Cyril Asser	Captain of H.M.S. Fame 17 Nov, 1903 – 11 Oct, 1904	Succeeded by Ernest Stevenson
Preceded by William H. H. S. Thomson	Captain of H.M.S. Ostrich 28 Mar, 1905 – 22 May, 1905	Succeeded by George W. McO. Campbell
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Boyne 22 May, 1905 – 28 May, 1906	Succeeded by Ernest E. Parker
Preceded by Joseph A. Shuter	Captain of H.M.S. Foyle 28 May, 1906 – 25 Feb, 1909	Succeeded by Percy Withers
Preceded by Cecil H. Fox	Captain of H.M.S. Mohawk 25 Feb, 1909 – 31 May, 1910	Succeeded by Hugh Gaultier-Coghill Somerville
Preceded by Charles D. Carpendale	Captain of H.M.S. Bacchante 8 May, 1912 – 10 Aug, 1912	Succeeded by The Hon. Algernon D. E. H. Boyle
Preceded by ?	Captain Superintendent of T.B.Ds. Building by Contract 4 Jan, 1915 – 1 Jul, 1918	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Henry E. Grace	Captain of H.M.S. Yarmouth 1 Jul, 1918 – 1 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by Arthur B. Hughes