Navy Officer Becomes First Briton To Win Prestigious Award In India

A Royal Navy officer has become the first Briton to receive a prestigious award from the India National Defence College.

Captain Ian Lynn was given the Colonel Pyara Lal Medal for his study into maritime security in the region.

He is only the fifth international student to receive the honour in 60 years.

While enrolled in the senior officers’ course at the college, he chose to complete a Master of Philosophy degree underwritten by Madras University at the same time.

His degree thesis won him the college’s sole award: the Colonel Pyara Lal Medal.

The thesis examined the role of India’s newly-formed International Maritime Fusion Centre – which concentrates on security of shipping in the Indian Ocean region – in supporting the Commonwealth powers’ national security.

"It was a huge surprise and honour to have been given the award," said Captain Lynn, who’s served much of his career in the Portsmouth area.

"I knew that I had made the final 10 but, given the stiff competition, I was certainly not expecting to be conferred as top student."

Captain Lynn drew on his skills and knowledge from having previously commanded patrol ships HMS Mersey and Dumbarton Castle and the Royal Navy’s Fishery Protection Squadron, plus National Maritime Information Centre, and also having been on the writing team for the UK’s National Strategy for Maritime Security.

The college in New Delhi takes on 100 students each January for its senior officers’ course, both military and senior civil servants, including 20 international students.

Captain Lynn is now the UK’s Naval and Air Advisor to India, travelling throughout the country from his base in the British High Commission in New Delhi.

Cover image: Captain Ian Lynn with the Colonel Pyara Lal Medal (Picture: MOD).