Martin Henry St. Leger Nott - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 18:50, 15 April 2022
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	===Post-Independence===		===Post-Independence===
	After the [[partition of India]], Nott's services were loaned to India. On 15 August 1947, was constituted [[Commodore (rank)\|Commodore 2nd class]] and appointed Chief of Staff (COS) to the [[Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy]]. The Chief of Staff to the C-in-C was the [[de facto]] [[second in command]] of the RIN. This appointment was re-designated ''Deputy Commander-in-Chief'' in 1949, ''[[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)\|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]]'' in 1955 and ''[[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)\|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]]'' in 1967.{{sfn\|Nanda\|~~2022~~}} In late-1947, the Navy participated in the [[Annexation of Junagadh]], responsible for landing troops and equipment on the Kathiawar coast. Nott led the planning and control of the operation. The naval force consisted of the frigates - {{ship\|HMIS\|Kistna\|U46}} , {{ship\|HMIS\|Cauvery\|U10}}, {{ship\|HMIS\|Jumna\|U21}}, the minesweepers - {{ship\|HMIS\|Konkan\|J228}}, {{ship\|HMIS\|Madras\|J237}}, {{ship\|HMIS\|Rohilkand\|J180}}, three [[Landing ship, tank\|LSTs]] and a [[Motor launch]] ML 420. The force was under the command of Commander [[Ram Dass Katari]].		After the [[partition of India]], Nott's services were loaned to India. On 15 August 1947, was constituted [[Commodore (rank)\|Commodore 2nd class]] and appointed Chief of Staff (COS) to the [[Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy]]. The Chief of Staff to the C-in-C was the [[de facto]] [[second in command]] of the RIN. This appointment was re-designated ''Deputy Commander-in-Chief'' in 1949, ''[[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)\|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]]'' in 1955 and ''[[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)\|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]]'' in 1967.{{sfn\|Nanda\|2015}} In late-1947, the Navy participated in the [[Annexation of Junagadh]], responsible for landing troops and equipment on the Kathiawar coast. Nott led the planning and control of the operation. The naval force consisted of the frigates - {{ship\|HMIS\|Kistna\|U46}} , {{ship\|HMIS\|Cauvery\|U10}}, {{ship\|HMIS\|Jumna\|U21}}, the minesweepers - {{ship\|HMIS\|Konkan\|J228}}, {{ship\|HMIS\|Madras\|J237}}, {{ship\|HMIS\|Rohilkand\|J180}}, three [[Landing ship, tank\|LSTs]] and a [[Motor launch]] ML 420. The force was under the command of Commander [[Ram Dass Katari]].

	As COS, Nott was responsible for the planning of the expansion of the Navy for an Independent India. He led the development of the first Plans paper and handpicked Commander [[Adhar Kumar Chatterji]] to head the plans directorate and Lieutenant Commander [[Nilakanta Krishnan]] as staff officer (plans).{{sfn\|Krishnan\|~~2022~~}} The plans paper ''Outline Plan for the Reorganisation and Development of the Indian Navy'' visualised four roles for the Navy:{{sfn\|Hiranandani\|1999}}		As COS, Nott was responsible for the planning of the expansion of the Navy for an Independent India. He led the development of the first Plans paper and handpicked Commander [[Adhar Kumar Chatterji]] to head the plans directorate and Lieutenant Commander [[Nilakanta Krishnan]] as staff officer (plans).{{sfn\|Krishnan\|2014}} The plans paper ''Outline Plan for the Reorganisation and Development of the Indian Navy'' visualised four roles for the Navy:{{sfn\|Hiranandani\|1999}}

	* To safeguard Indian shipping.		* To safeguard Indian shipping.
Line 63:		Line 63:

	==Death and legacy==		==Death and legacy==
	On 27 March 1948, Nott was proceeding to the United Kingdom on deputation. He, along with his wife Rosemary and son, were on an [[Indian National Airways Ltd]] flight. The [[Vickers VC.1 Viking]] aircraft crashed near Mont Cardo near Corsica. His death came as a shock to the Navy. Nott was the architect of the ten-year plan and was looking forward enthusiastically to implement the paper. According to Krishnan, he was regarded as an outstanding seaman, excellent staff officer and a great administrator.{{sfn\|Krishnan\|~~2022~~}} The first Indian [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)\|Chief of Naval Staff]] Admiral Katari considered Nott to be the most efficient officer of the Royal Navy deputed to the Indian Navy.{{sfn\|Katari\|1983}} His vision of a two-fleet navy became a reality in 1971, when the [[Eastern Fleet (India)\|Eastern Fleet]] was formed.<ref>{{cite web \|title=NAVY EASTERN FLEET FORMED ADM SARMA PLACED IN COMMAND \|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1971-SEPT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1971-11-18_085.pdf}}</ref>		On 27 March 1948, Nott was proceeding to the United Kingdom on deputation. He, along with his wife Rosemary and son, were on an [[Indian National Airways Ltd]] flight. The [[Vickers VC.1 Viking]] aircraft crashed near Mont Cardo near Corsica. His death came as a shock to the Navy. Nott was the architect of the ten-year plan and was looking forward enthusiastically to implement the paper. According to Krishnan, he was regarded as an outstanding seaman, excellent staff officer and a great administrator.{{sfn\|Krishnan\|2014}} The first Indian [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)\|Chief of Naval Staff]] Admiral Katari considered Nott to be the most efficient officer of the Royal Navy deputed to the Indian Navy.{{sfn\|Katari\|1983}} His vision of a two-fleet navy became a reality in 1971, when the [[Eastern Fleet (India)\|Eastern Fleet]] was formed.<ref>{{cite web \|title=NAVY EASTERN FLEET FORMED ADM SARMA PLACED IN COMMAND \|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1971-SEPT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1971-11-18_085.pdf}}</ref>

	The [[Ministry of Defence (India)\|Ministry of Defence]] called him "one of the Navy's most efficient and enterprising officers." A special memorial service was held for him attended by the [[Minister of Defence (India)\|Minister of Defence]] [[Sardar Baldev Singh]] and high-ranking officers of the RIN, the [[Indian Army]] and the [[Royal Indian Air Force]]. The [[Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy]] Rear Admiral [[John Talbot Savignac Hall]], the officiating [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)\|Chief of the Air Staff]] [[Air vice marshal (India)\|Air Vice Marshal]] [[Subroto Mukerjee]], [[Lieutenant General]] [[Dudley Russell]] and [[Major General (India)\|Major General]] [[S. M. Shrinagesh]] were in attendance.<ref>{{cite web \|title=PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (DEFENCE WING) \|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-04-08_207.pdf \|website=archive.pib.gov.in \|date=8 April 1948}}</ref> After Nott's death, [[Commodore (India)\|Commodore]] [[Ajitendu Chakraverti]] took over as the officiating Chief of Staff after Nott's death, thus becoming the first Indian to be promoted to the rank of Commodore.<ref name="First Commodore">{{cite web \|title=PIB (Defence Wing) \|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-05-08_240.pdf \|website=pibarchive.nic.in}}</ref> The Naval headquarters awards an annual ''Commodore Nott prize'' for the best essay on naval matters.{{sfn\|Hiranandani\|1999}}		The [[Ministry of Defence (India)\|Ministry of Defence]] called him "one of the Navy's most efficient and enterprising officers." A special memorial service was held for him attended by the [[Minister of Defence (India)\|Minister of Defence]] [[Sardar Baldev Singh]] and high-ranking officers of the RIN, the [[Indian Army]] and the [[Royal Indian Air Force]]. The [[Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy]] Rear Admiral [[John Talbot Savignac Hall]], the officiating [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)\|Chief of the Air Staff]] [[Air vice marshal (India)\|Air Vice Marshal]] [[Subroto Mukerjee]], [[Lieutenant General]] [[Dudley Russell]] and [[Major General (India)\|Major General]] [[S. M. Shrinagesh]] were in attendance.<ref>{{cite web \|title=PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (DEFENCE WING) \|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-04-08_207.pdf \|website=archive.pib.gov.in \|date=8 April 1948}}</ref> After Nott's death, [[Commodore (India)\|Commodore]] [[Ajitendu Chakraverti]] took over as the officiating Chief of Staff after Nott's death, thus becoming the first Indian to be promoted to the rank of Commodore.<ref name="First Commodore">{{cite web \|title=PIB (Defence Wing) \|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-05-08_240.pdf \|website=pibarchive.nic.in}}</ref> The Naval headquarters awards an annual ''Commodore Nott prize'' for the best essay on naval matters.{{sfn\|Hiranandani\|1999}}

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{{short description|Officer of the Royal Indian Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific prefix = [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]]
| name = M. H. St. L. Nott
| honorific suffix = [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]], [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1904|06|30|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1948|03|27|1904|06|30}}
| birth_place =
| death_place = [[Corsica]], [[France]]
| placeofburial =
| image =
| caption =
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flag|British Raj}} {{flag|India}}
| branch = [[Royal Indian Marine]] (1924-1934) {{navy|British Raj}} (1934-1948)
| serviceyears = 1924–1948
| rank = [[File:11-Indian_Navy-CDRE.svg|20px]] [[File:British_Royal_Navy_(sleeves)_OF-6.svg|20px]] [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]]
| commands = [[Southern Naval Command|Cochin Command]] HMIS Monze {{ship|HMIS|Narbada|U40}} HMIS Investigator (1932) HMIS Pansy HMIS Ramdas
| unit =
| battles = [[World War II]]
| relations =
| awards = [[File:Dso-ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Distinguished Service Order]] [[File:Order_of_the_British_Empire_(Military)_Ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Mentioned in dispatches]] (2)
| laterwork =
}}

[[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]] '''Martin Henry St. Leger Nott''', [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]], [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]] was an Officer in the [[Royal Indian Navy]]. He was the first [[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of Staff]] to the [[Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy]] after the Independence of India. He died in a plane crash with his family at Mont Cardo, near [[Corsica]], [[France]], at the age of 43.

Nott was regarded as a visionary officer who worked to build the fledgling Indian Navy in her early years after Independence. He is credited with drawing up the plans of the expansion of the RIN, having led the development of the first ten-year plan paper. He was also regarded as an outstanding seaman, excellent [[staff officer]] and a great administrator. As the [[Southern Naval Command#List of Commanders|Naval officer-in-charge Cochin]], he saw potential and advocated the development and expansion of the naval base in [[Cochin]].

==Early life==
Nott was born on 30 June 1904 to [[Major]] Lewis Herbert William Nott, an officer in the [[British Army]] and Hilda Mary Stephens.<ref name="britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001851/19390628/050/0050 |title= |newspaper= |location= |page= |issue= |date= |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>

==Naval career==
Nott joined the [[Royal Indian Marine]] (RIM) at the age of 17 as a [[midshipman]] in 1921.<ref name="PIB Obit">{{cite web |title=DEATH OF COMMODORE NOTT |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-04-03_190.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=3 April 1948}}</ref> He was promoted to the rank of [[Sub-lieutenant]] on 15 October 1924.<ref name="Sub Lt">{{cite web |title=Page 522 {{!}} Issue 33014, 25 January 1925 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33014/page/522 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> He specialised in signals and communication and spent his early years based out of Bombay at ''[[HMIS Dalhousie]]''.{{sfn|Singh|1991}}<ref name="UH">{{cite web |title=World War II unit histories & officers |url=https://www.unithistories.com/units_index/default.asp?file=../officers/personsx.html |website=www.unithistories.com}}</ref> After three years in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant, he was promoted to the rank of [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]] on 15 October 1927.<ref>{{cite web |title=Page 8248 {{!}} Issue 33340, 23 December 1927 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33340/page/8248 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> On 2 October 1934, the RIM was renamed Royal Indian Navy (RIN). The next year, with 8 years service, he was promoted to [[Lieutenant Commander]] on 15 October 1935.<ref name="Greenwich museum">{{cite book |title=Career of Captain Martin Henry St Ledger Nott, OBE, DSO, RIN (1904-1948). (RIN/42) |publisher=The Royal Indian Navy Association |location=National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London}}</ref>

In the [[1938 New Year Honours]], Nott was awarded the [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]],<ref name="OBE">{{cite web |title=Page 7 {{!}} Supplement 34469, 31 December 1937 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34469/supplement/7 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> Later that year, he was selected to attend the [[Royal Naval College, Greenwich]], the staff course starting on 10 January 1939. He was the only RIN officer to attend the course where he and [[Gerald Gladstone (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Gerald Gladstone]], who rose to become the [[Far East Fleet (United Kingdom)#Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet|Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet]] were course-mates.<ref>{{cite web |title=(403) - Navy lists > Monthly > 1939 > September - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92719774 |website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref>

===World War II===
With the outbreak of [[World War II]] in September 1939, Nott was appointed [[commanding officer]] of the auxiliary patrol vessel ''HMIS Ramdas''. Since the ''Ramdas'' was off Karachi, he was also in charge of the Karachi naval defence flotilla.<ref>{{cite web |title=(791) - Navy lists > Monthly > 1939 > December - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92732978 |website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=(1012) - Navy lists > Monthly > 1940 > June - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92792458 |website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref> On 2 February 1940, he moved to [[Calcutta]] and took command of the [[survey ship]] ''[[HMIS Investigator]]'' and was in charge of the local naval defence flotilla.<ref>{{cite web |title=(110) - Navy lists > Bimonthly > 1940 > October - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92808138 |website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=(1169) - Navy lists > Bimonthly > 1940 > October - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92820846 |website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref> In March, he took command of the Cornwallis-class [[sloop]] ''HMIS Pansy'' and was back in command of the ''Investigator'' in April. In July, he moved to the Boys' training establishment at Karachi - HMIS Bahadur.<ref name="Greenwich museum"/>

In February 1941, Nott was appointed on the staff of the [[East Indies Station|Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station]] [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] [[Ralph Leatham|Sir Ralph Leatham]]. The East Indies Station was headquartered at [[HMS Lanka]] in [[Colombo]] and Nott served as the liaison officer to the C-in-C. In August 1940, [[Italian invasion of British Somaliland|Italy invaded British Somaliland]] annexing it. In early 1941, [[Operation Appearance]] was being planned to re-take British Somaliland. Nott played an important part in the arrangements for seaborne supplies for the advancing forces in Italian Somaliland. On 19 April 1941, he was promoted to the acting rank of [[Commander]].<ref name="Greenwich museum"/> For good services in operations off the coast of [[Italian East Africa]], he was [[mentioned in dispatches]] on 30 September 1941.<ref>{{cite web |title=Page 5639 {{!}} Issue 35289, 26 September 1941 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35289/page/5639 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> He was appointed Staff Officer (Operations) to the [[Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Navy, East Indies Station war despatches, 1940-41 |url=https://www.naval-history.net/xDKWD-EF1940-41.htm |website=www.naval-history.net}}</ref> He subsequently moved to the Royal Naval base in the Persian Gulf - ''HMS Seabelle''. For his services in the Persian Gulf, he was mentioned in dispatches for the second time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Page 1106 {{!}} Supplement 35481, 6 March 1942 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35481/supplement/1106 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> In September 1941, he moved to Naval headquarters as the Staff Officer (Plans).<ref name="PIB Obit" /><ref>{{cite web |title=(1026) - Navy lists > Bimonthly > 1942 > April - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92980398 |website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref> During this tenure, on 28 May 1942, he was promoted to the substantive rank of commander.<ref name="Greenwich museum"/> He subsequently worked towards dealing with the menace of Japanese submarines in the [[Arabian Sea]].<ref name="PIB Obit" />

On 1 January 1944, Nott was promoted to the acting rank of [[Captain (naval)|Captain]].<ref name="Greenwich museum"/> On 21 March 1944, he was appointed commanding officer of the modified [[Black Swan-class sloop]] {{ship|HMIS|Narbada|U40}}, the [[flagship]] of the Royal Indian Navy.<ref>{{cite web |title=(1123) - Navy lists > Quarterly > 1945 > January > Volume 3 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93426634 |website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref> He also directed the operations as the Senior Naval Commander of the bombarding force for Japanese positions on the [[Arakan]] coast. The task force consisting of ''Narbada'' and the [[Black Swan-class sloop]] {{ship|HMIS|Jumna|U21}}, was part of a larger British task force which bombarded Japanese positions at [[Isla Pulo]] at the entrance of the [[Malacca Strait]].{{sfn|Singh|1986}} For ''his courage, tenacity and devotion to duty in operations lasting four months, frequently performed under rapidly changing conditions and with difficult lines of communication, on the Arakan Coast'', Nott was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]].<ref name="PIB Obit" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Page 3558 {{!}} Supplement 37170, 6 July 1945 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37170/supplement/3558 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> After the [[Surrender of Japan]], the ''Narbada'' sailed to Andaman waters and Nott accepted the surrender of the Japanese [[Brigadier]] in command of the [[Car Nicobar]] garrison onboard the ship.{{sfn|Singh|1986}}

===Post-war career===
In mid-1945, Nott moved to Karachi as the Naval Officer-in-Charge (NOIC), based out of ''HMIS Monze''.<ref>{{cite web |title=(1130) - Navy lists > Quarterly > 1945 > July > Volume 3 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93504742 |website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=(167) - Navy lists > Quarterly > 1945 > July > Volume 1 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93468074 |website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref> On 1 November 1945, he was appointed Director of Training and Education at Naval HQ. This stint was to be of immense help post-Independence when most of the training establishments were allotted to Pakistan. In April 1946, Nott was appointed Chief Staff Officer (CSO) to the Flag Officer Bombay (FOB), [[Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear Admiral]] [[Arthur Rullion Rattray]].<ref name="PIB Obit"/> After a short stint, in February 1947, he took command of [[INS Venduruthy|HMIS Venduruthy]] as the Naval Officer-in-charge Cochin. Soon after taking over, he saw the potential of the base and envisioned the development of Cochin as a combined training base. With Nott's efforts, multiple training establishments were set up in Cochin.{{sfn|Singh|1986}}{{sfn|Singh|1991}} On 31 May 1947, he was promoted to the substantive rank of captain.<ref name="Greenwich museum"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Page 3983 {{!}} Issue 38052, 22 August 1947 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38052/page/3983 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>

===Post-Independence===
After the [[partition of India]], Nott's services were loaned to India. On 15 August 1947, was constituted [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore 2nd class]] and appointed Chief of Staff (COS) to the [[Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy]]. The Chief of Staff to the C-in-C was the [[de facto]] [[second in command]] of the RIN. This appointment was re-designated ''Deputy Commander-in-Chief'' in 1949, ''[[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]]'' in 1955 and ''[[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]]'' in 1967.{{sfn|Nanda|2022}} In late-1947, the Navy participated in the [[Annexation of Junagadh]], responsible for landing troops and equipment on the Kathiawar coast. Nott led the planning and control of the operation. The naval force consisted of the frigates - {{ship|HMIS|Kistna|U46}} , {{ship|HMIS|Cauvery|U10}}, {{ship|HMIS|Jumna|U21}}, the minesweepers - {{ship|HMIS|Konkan|J228}}, {{ship|HMIS|Madras|J237}}, {{ship|HMIS|Rohilkand|J180}}, three [[Landing ship, tank|LSTs]] and a [[Motor launch]] ML 420. The force was under the command of Commander [[Ram Dass Katari]].

As COS, Nott was responsible for the planning of the expansion of the Navy for an Independent India. He led the development of the first Plans paper and handpicked Commander [[Adhar Kumar Chatterji]] to head the plans directorate and Lieutenant Commander [[Nilakanta Krishnan]] as staff officer (plans).{{sfn|Krishnan|2022}} The plans paper ''Outline Plan for the Reorganisation and Development of the Indian Navy'' visualised four roles for the Navy:{{sfn|Hiranandani|1999}}

* To safeguard Indian shipping.
* To ensure that supplies could reach and leave by sea in all circumstances.
* To prevent an enemy landing on India's shores.
* To support the Army in sea borne operations.

His paper called for the building of a completely Indian-manned force consisting of two light [[aircraft carrier]]s, three cruisers, eight [[destroyer]]s, four [[submarine]]s and "such smaller ships as were necessary for training and auxiliary purposes."{{Sfn|Singh|1986}} It also envisioned the formation of two fleets, each to be built around a light fleet carrier.{{sfn|Hiranandani|1999}} As a result of the first phase of his plan, the [[Leander-class cruiser (1931)|Leander-class cruiser]] {{ship|HMS|Achilles|70}} was acquired in 1948 and christened {{ship|INS|Delhi|C74}}. Three [[destroyer]]s - {{ship|HMS|Rotherham|H09}}, {{ship|HMS|Redoubt|H41}} and {{ship|HMS|Raider|H15}} were also acquired and renamed {{ship|INS|Rajput|D141}}, {{ship|INS|Ranjit|1949}} and {{ship|INS|Rana|D115}}.{{sfn|Singh|1986}}<ref name="PIB Obit" />

==Personal life==
Nott married Rosemary Kathleen Dampier Terry of London in August 1939. The couple had a son. Nott, Rosemary and their son, all perished in an air crash.<ref name="britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk"/>

==Death and legacy==
On 27 March 1948, Nott was proceeding to the United Kingdom on deputation. He, along with his wife Rosemary and son, were on an [[Indian National Airways Ltd]] flight. The [[Vickers VC.1 Viking]] aircraft crashed near Mont Cardo near Corsica. His death came as a shock to the Navy. Nott was the architect of the ten-year plan and was looking forward enthusiastically to implement the paper. According to Krishnan, he was regarded as an outstanding seaman, excellent staff officer and a great administrator.{{sfn|Krishnan|2022}} The first Indian [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of Naval Staff]] Admiral Katari considered Nott to be the most efficient officer of the Royal Navy deputed to the Indian Navy.{{sfn|Katari|1983}} His vision of a two-fleet navy became a reality in 1971, when the [[Eastern Fleet (India)|Eastern Fleet]] was formed.<ref>{{cite web |title=NAVY EASTERN FLEET FORMED ADM SARMA PLACED IN COMMAND |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1971-SEPT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1971-11-18_085.pdf}}</ref>

The [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] called him "one of the Navy's most efficient and enterprising officers." A special memorial service was held for him attended by the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]] [[Sardar Baldev Singh]] and high-ranking officers of the RIN, the [[Indian Army]] and the [[Royal Indian Air Force]]. The [[Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy]] Rear Admiral [[John Talbot Savignac Hall]], the officiating [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]] [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] [[Subroto Mukerjee]], [[Lieutenant General]] [[Dudley Russell]] and [[Major General (India)|Major General]] [[S. M. Shrinagesh]] were in attendance.<ref>{{cite web |title=PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (DEFENCE WING) |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-04-08_207.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=8 April 1948}}</ref> After Nott's death, [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]] [[Ajitendu Chakraverti]] took over as the officiating Chief of Staff after Nott's death, thus becoming the first Indian to be promoted to the rank of Commodore.<ref name="First Commodore">{{cite web |title=PIB (Defence Wing) |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-05-08_240.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in}}</ref> The Naval headquarters awards an annual ''Commodore Nott prize'' for the best essay on naval matters.{{sfn|Hiranandani|1999}}

==See also==
* [[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]]
* [[Southern Naval Command]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{citation|first1=Satyindra|last1=Singh|title=Under two ensigns: The Indian Navy, 1945-1950|year=1986|isbn= 978-8120400948|publisher=Oxford & IBH Pub. Co}}
*{{citation|first1=Satyindra|last1=Singh|title=Blueprint to bluewater: The Indian Navy, 1951-65|year=1991|isbn= 978-8170621485|publisher=Lancer International}}
*{{citation|first1=S.M.|last1=Nanda|title=The man who bombed Karachi|year=2015|isbn= 978-8172235628|publisher=HarperCollins}}
*{{citation|first1=Arjun|last1=Krishnan|title=A sailor's story|year=2014|isbn= 978-8189534141|publisher=Punya Publications}}
*{{citation|first1=G.M.|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965-1975|year=1999|isbn= 978-1897829721|publisher= Spantech & Lancer}}
*{{citation|first1=Ram Dass|last1=Katari|title=A Sailor Remembers|year=1983|isbn=9780706920642|publisher=Vikas}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-new|reason=First holder}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]] (as Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, RIN) |years=1947–1948}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ajitendu Chakraverti]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nott, Martin Henry St. Leger}}
[[Category:Royal Indian Navy officers]]
[[Category:Deputy Chiefs of Naval Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:1904 births]]
[[Category:1948 deaths]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1948]]