after the end of the war hill-norton became gunnery officer on the cruiser in the south atlantic and then, having been promoted to commander on 31 december 1947, he was posted to the naval ordnance division at the admiralty. he became executive officer of the aircraft carrier hms "eagle" in 1951 and participated in exercise mainbrace. promoted to captain on 31 december 1952, he was posted to buenos aires as naval attaché to argentina, paraguay and uruguay in september 1953 before commanding the destroyer during the suez crisis in 1956. 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. he was given command of the aircraft carrier in october 1959, before being promoted to rear admiral on 8 january 1962 and being appointed assistant chief of naval staff in february 1962. he was appointed a companion of the order of the bath in the 1964 new year honours. he was made flag officer second in command far east fleet in june 1964 during the indonesia–malaysia confrontation and, having been promoted to vice admiral on 7 august 1965, he became deputy chief of defence staff (personnel and logistics) at the ministry of defence in 1966. he was advanced to knight commander of the order of the bath in the 1967 new year honours. becoming second sea lord and chief of naval personnel in january 1967, it was in this capacity that he took the decision to abolish the royal navy's traditional daily rum ration. he went on to be vice chief of the naval staff in august 1967 and, having been promoted to full admiral on 1 october 1968, he became commander-in-chief far east command in march 1969. he was advanced to knight grand cross of the order of the bath in the 1970 birthday honours.