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Peter Hill-Norton

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Admiral of the FleetThe Right Honourable

The Lord Hill-Norton

GCB
Hill-Norton in 1974
Born(1915-02-08)8 February 1915
Germiston,Transvaal Province,South Africa
Died16 May 2004(2004-05-16)(aged 89)
Studland Bay,Dorset,England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1929–1977
RankAdmiral of the Fleet
CommandsChief of the Defence Staff
First Sea Lord
HMSArk Royal
HMSDecoy
Battles/warsSecond World War
Suez Crisis
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Admiral of the FleetPeter John Hill-Norton, Baron Hill-Norton,GCB(8 February 1915 – 16 May 2004) was a seniorRoyal Navyofficer. He fought in theSecond World Waras gunnery officer in acruiseroperating on theWestern Approachesand in theNorth Seataking part in theNorwegian Campaign,then in a cruiser taking part in theArctic convoysand finally in abattleshipoperating in theEastern Fleet.After the War he commanded adestroyerand then anaircraft carrier.He served asFirst Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staffand thenChief of the Defence Staffin early 1970s. In the latter role he gave the final commitment toProject Chevaline,thePolaris missileimprovement programme. He went on to beChairman of the NATO Military Committee.

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Born the son ofCaptainMartin John NortonRFCand Margery Birnie Norton (née Hill), Peter John Norton (he changed his surname to Hill-Norton in 1931)[1]was educated at theRoyal Naval College, Dartmouthand theRoyal Naval College,Greenwich.[2]He joined theRoyal Navyas acadetin 1928 and, having been promoted tomidshipmanon 1 May 1932, was posted to thecruiserHMSLondonlater that year.[3]He transferred to thebattleshipHMSRodneyin September 1934 and, having been promoted tosub-lieutenanton 1 September 1935,[4]he was posted to the battleshipHMSRamilliesin August 1936.[3]Promoted tolieutenanton 1 October 1936,[5]he attended the gunnery course at the shore establishmentHMSExcellentin 1939.[3]

The cruiserHMSCumberlandin which Hill-Norton took part in the Arctic convoys during the Second World War

Hill-Norton served during the Second World War initially as a gunnery instructor at HMSExcellentand then as gunnery officer on the cruiserHMSCairooperating on theWestern Approachesand in theNorth Seaand taking part in theNorwegian Campaignin Spring 1940.[6]He then transferred to the cruiserHMSCumberlandwhich took part in theArctic convoys.[3]He joined the staff of the gunnery division at theAdmiraltyin 1943 and, having been promoted tolieutenant commanderon 1 April 1944,[7]became gunnery officer on the battleshipHMSHoweoperating in theEastern Fleetlater that year.[3]With HMSHowehe took part in the attack on theSakishima Islands.[6]

ThePolaris missileimprovement programme was approved by Hill-Norton as First Sea Lord

After the end of the War, Hill-Norton became gunnery officer on the cruiserHMSNigeriain the South Atlantic and then, having been promoted tocommanderon 31 December 1947, he was posted to the naval ordnance division at the Admiralty.[1]He became executive officer of theaircraft carrierHMSEaglein 1951 and participated inExercise Mainbrace.[6]Promoted tocaptainon 31 December 1952,[8]he was posted toBuenos Airesas navalattachétoArgentina,ParaguayandUruguayin September 1953 before commanding thedestroyerHMSDecoyduring theSuez Crisisin 1956.[1]He became Head of the Weapon Equipment Section at the Admiralty in 1957 and Director of the Tactical and Weapons Policy Division there in 1958.[9]He was given command of the aircraft carrierHMSArk Royalin October 1959, before being promoted torear admiralon 8 January 1962[10]and being appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff in February 1962.[9]He was appointed aCompanion of the Order of the Bathin the1964 New Year Honours.[2][11]He was made Flag Officer Second in CommandFar East Fleetin June 1964 during theIndonesia–Malaysia confrontationand, having been promoted tovice admiralon 7 August 1965,[12]he became Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Logistics) at theMinistry of Defencein 1966.[9]He was advanced toKnight Commander of the Order of the Bathin the 1967New Year Honours.[13]BecomingSecond Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnelin January 1967, it was in this capacity that he took the decision to abolish theRoyal Navy's traditional dailyrum ration.[14]He went on to beVice Chief of the Naval Staffin August 1967 and, having been promoted to fulladmiralon 1 October 1968,[15]he became Commander-in-ChiefFar East Commandin March 1969.[9]He was advanced toKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bathin the1970 Birthday Honours.[16]

Hill-Norton was swiftly propelled into the post ofFirst Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staffin July 1970 and then, having been promoted toAdmiral of the Fleeton 12 March 1971,[17]into the post ofChief of the Defence Staffin April 1971[18]following the unexpected early retirement ofSir Michael Le Fanudue to ill health.[9]In the latter role he gave the final commitment toProject Chevaline,thePolaris missileimprovement programme.[6]He becameChairman of the NATO Military Committeein 1974, remaining in that post until his retirement in 1977.[9]

Later career

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Hill-Norton was made alife peerasBaron Hill-Norton,ofSouth Nutfieldin theCounty of Surrey,in February 1979,[19]and took an active role at theHouse of Lordsas acrossbencher.[20]He was President of the Sea Cadet Association, Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889),[21]a Liveryman of theShipwrights' Company[2]and a Freeman of theCity of London.[6]He authored a book entitledNo Soft Options: The Politico-Military Realities of NATOin 1978 and another entitledSea Power: Story of Warships and Naviesin 1982.[2]He also narrated a series on sea power forBBC Televisionin 1985.[22]In later years he took an interest inUFOs,writing about them and expressing concern in Parliament about the potential destruction of files on them.[23]

Hill-Norton's interests included gardening and shooting.[2]He lived atHydenearFordingbridgeinHampshireand died of aheart attackatStudland BayinDorseton 16 May 2004.[1]

Family

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In 1936 he married Eileen Linstow; they had one son (Vice AdmiralSir Nicholas Hill-Norton) and one daughter.[2]

Arms

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Coat of arms of Peter Hill-Norton
Crest
Out of a naval crown Or on a mount Vert a springbok trippant Proper.
Escutcheon
On a bend Gules between in chief a terrestrial sphere Proper and in base three cannon balls Sable within an annulet Azure four anchors Or.
Supporters
On either side a hippocampus holding in the tail an anchor Proper.
Motto
Try Harder[24]

References

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  1. ^abcd"Peter John Hill-Norton".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/93760.Retrieved8 September2012.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
  2. ^abcdefPeople of Today 1994, Debrett,ISBN1 870520 19 X
  3. ^abcdeHeathcote, p. 114
  4. ^"No. 34314".The London Gazette.14 August 1936. p. 5343.
  5. ^"No. 34379".The London Gazette.12 March 1937. p. 1641.
  6. ^abcde"Obituary: Admiral of the Fleet Lord Hill-Norton".The Telegraph.London. 19 May 2004.Retrieved8 September2012.
  7. ^"No. 36522".The London Gazette.19 May 1944. p. 2297.
  8. ^"No. 39749".The London Gazette.9 January 1953. p. 220.
  9. ^abcdefHeathcote, p. 115
  10. ^"No. 42516".The London Gazette.17 November 1961. p. 8344.
  11. ^"No. 43200".The London Gazette(Supplement). 1 January 1964. p. 2.
  12. ^"No. 43758".The London Gazette.7 September 1965. p. 8447.
  13. ^"No. 44210".The London Gazette(Supplement). 30 December 1966. p. 2.
  14. ^"Obituary: Admiral of the Fleet Lord Hill-Norton".The Guardian.20 May 2004.Retrieved8 September2012.
  15. ^"No. 44699".The London Gazette(Supplement). 18 October 1968. p. 11321.
  16. ^"No. 45117".The London Gazette(Supplement). 5 June 1970. p. 6366.
  17. ^"No. 45331".The London Gazette(Supplement). 30 March 1971. p. 2937.
  18. ^"No. 45168".The London Gazette(Supplement). 7 August 1970. p. 8853.
  19. ^"No. 47765".The London Gazette.8 February 1979. p. 1737.
  20. ^Heathcote, p. 116
  21. ^"Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889)".Archived fromthe originalon 31 August 2018.Retrieved8 September2012.
  22. ^"Seapower".British Film Institute. Archived fromthe originalon 24 December 2012.Retrieved8 September2012.
  23. ^"House of Lords questions".Hansard. 3 May 2001.Retrieved8 September2012.
  24. ^Debrett's Peerage.2003. p. 795.

Sources

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  • Heathcote, Tony (2002).The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995.Pen & Sword Ltd.ISBN0-85052-835-6.

Further reading

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  • Hill-Norton, Peter (1978).No Soft Options: The Politico-Military Realities of NATO.C. Hurst & Co.ISBN978-0773505032.
  • Hill-Norton, Peter (1982).Sea Power: Story of Warships and Navies.Faber and Faber.ISBN978-0571118908.
[edit]
Military offices
Preceded by Second Sea Lord
1967 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
1967–1969 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-ChiefFar East Command
1969–1970 		Succeeded by
Preceded by First Sea Lord
1970–1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Defence Staff
1971–1973 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the NATO Military Committee
1974–1977 		Succeeded by
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