Norman Ernest Archer CMG, OBE (27 August 1892 – 15 February 1970) was a British naval officer and diplomat.

Walter Archer was recruited in 1912 with the code name "Sage" by the Secret Intelligence Service's first director Mansfield Smith-Cumming to spy on German ships in Norwegian and Danish waters.

Archer spent most of his tour of duty in Sevastopol, the Black Sea Fleet's main base, but he was present when the Russians captured Trebizond from the Turks in 1916.

[1] In 1948, as part of the British Representative's Office in Dublin, Archer was involved in attempts to ensure that Irish citizens in India were covered in the absence of diplomatic representation.

In addition to extensive dominions and colonial experience, Archer had been a career naval officer [...] consequently had direct knowledge of military affairs as well as civil administration.