born the son of captain martin john norton rfc and margery birnie norton (née hill), peter john norton (he changed his surname to hill-norton in 1931) was educated at the royal naval college, dartmouth and the royal naval college, greenwich. he joined the royal navy as a cadet in 1928 and, having been promoted to midshipman on 1 may 1932, was posted to the cruiser hms "london" later that year. he transferred to the battleship hms "rodney" in september 1934 and, having been promoted to sub-lieutenant on 1 september 1935, he was posted to the battleship hms "ramillies" in august 1936. promoted to lieutenant on 1 october 1936, he attended the gunnery course at the shore establishment hms "excellent" in 1939.