Peter Hill-Norton
Encyclopedia
Admiral of the Fleet
Peter John Hill-Norton, Baron Hill-Norton GCB
(8 February 1915 – 16 May 2004) was Chief of the Defence Staff
of the United Kingdom
and Chairman of the NATO Military Committee.
pilot and coming from a naval family on his mother's side, Hill-Norton became a cadet at Dartmouth
in 1929.
He served during the Second World War as a gunnery officer in the Arctic convoys
, on the North West approaches and on the naval staff at the Admiralty
.
He rose swiftly through the ranks, becoming a captain
in 1952 and then serving as naval attaché
in Argentina
, Uruguay
and Portugal
between 1953 and 1955 before commanding during the Suez Crisis
in 1956. He was given the prestigious command of in 1959, before becoming a rear admiral and being appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff in 1962. He was made Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet in 1964 and Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Logistics) in 1966 and then went on to be Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
in 1967. He believed in modernization and it was in this capacity that he took the brave decision to abolish the Royal Navy
's traditional daily rum
ration.
He went on to be Vice Chief of the Naval Staff later the same year and Commander-in-Chief Far East Command
in 1969.
In 1970 and 1971 he was swiftly propelled into the posts of First Sea Lord
and then Chief of the Defence Staff
respectively by the unexpected early retirement of Sir Michael LeFanu
. In 1974 he became head of NATO's military committee, a post he held until his retirement in 1977.
as Baron Hill-Norton, of South Nutfield in the County of Surrey
in 1979, and took an active role at the House of Lords
as a crossbencher.
In 1981 Hill-Norton narrated a series on sea power for BBC Television, and subsequently authored a book under the same title. Between 1978 and 1980 he was Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889).
In later years he took an interest in UFOs, which included writing about them and asking questions in Parliament.
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Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
Peter John Hill-Norton, Baron Hill-Norton GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(8 February 1915 – 16 May 2004) was Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the British Armed Forces, a senior official within the Ministry of Defence, and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Chairman of the NATO Military Committee.
Naval career
Born the son of a Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
pilot and coming from a naval family on his mother's side, Hill-Norton became a cadet at Dartmouth
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
in 1929.
He served during the Second World War as a gunnery officer in the Arctic convoys
Arctic convoys of World War II
The Arctic convoys of World War II travelled from the United Kingdom and North America to the northern ports of the Soviet Union—Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. There were 78 convoys between August 1941 and May 1945...
, on the North West approaches and on the naval staff at the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
.
He rose swiftly through the ranks, becoming a captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in 1952 and then serving as naval attaché
Attaché
Attaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
between 1953 and 1955 before commanding during the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
in 1956. He was given the prestigious command of in 1959, before becoming a rear admiral and being appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff in 1962. He was made Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet in 1964 and Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Logistics) in 1966 and then went on to be Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
Second Sea Lord
The Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command , commonly just known as the Second Sea Lord , is one of the most senior admirals of the British Royal Navy , and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments.-History:In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were...
in 1967. He believed in modernization and it was in this capacity that he took the brave decision to abolish the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's traditional daily rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
ration.
He went on to be Vice Chief of the Naval Staff later the same year and Commander-in-Chief Far East Command
British Far East Command
The Far East Command was a British military command which had 2 distinct periods. These were firstly, 18 November 1940 – 7 January 1942 succeeded by the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command , and secondly, 1963 – 1971 succeeded by Australia, New Zealand, and United Kingdom Force...
in 1969.
In 1970 and 1971 he was swiftly propelled into the posts of First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
and then Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff
The Chief of the Defence Staff can refer to:*Chief of the Defence Force *Chief of the Defence Staff *Chief of the Defence Staff *Chief of the Defence Staff...
respectively by the unexpected early retirement of Sir Michael LeFanu
Michael Le Fanu
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Le Fanu GCB, DSC was a Royal Navy admiral and First Sea Lord.-Early life:Le Fanu was born at Lindfield, West Sussex, the son of Captain Hugh Barrington le Fanu RN...
. In 1974 he became head of NATO's military committee, a post he held until his retirement in 1977.
Later career
He was made a life peerLife peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Hill-Norton, of South Nutfield in the County of Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in 1979, and took an active role at the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
as a crossbencher.
In 1981 Hill-Norton narrated a series on sea power for BBC Television, and subsequently authored a book under the same title. Between 1978 and 1980 he was Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889).
In later years he took an interest in UFOs, which included writing about them and asking questions in Parliament.
Further reading
- The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 - 1995, Heathcote T. A., Pen & Sword Ltd, 2002, ISBN 0 85052 835 6
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