John Wallace Linton

Rank: Commander
Unit: HM Submarine Turbulent, Royal Navy
Awarded: 23rd February 1944
Nationality: British

The citation in the London Gazette of 21st May, 1943, gives the following details:

From the outbreak of War until H.M.S. Turbulent's last patrol Commander Linton was constantly in command of submarines, and during that time inflicted great damage on the Enemy. He sank one Cruiser, one Destroyer, one U-boat, twenty-eight Supply Ships, some 100,000 tons in all, and destroyed three trains by gun-fire. In his last year he spent two hundred and fifty-four days at sea, submerged for nearly 'half the time, and his ship was hunted thirteen times and had two hundred and fifty depth charges, aimed at her. His many and brilliant successes were due to his constant activity and skill, and the daring which never failed him when there was an Enemy to be attacked. On one occasion, for instance, in H.M.S. Turbulent, he sighted a convoy of two Merchantmen and two Destroyers in mist and moonlight. He worked round ahead of the convoy and dived to attack it as it passed through the moon's rays. On bringing his sights to bear he found himself right ahead of a Destroyer. Yet he held his course till the Destroyer was almost on top of him, and, when his sights came on the convoy, he fired. His great courage and determination were rewarded. He sank one Merchantman and one Destroyer outright, and set the other Merchantman on fire so that she blew up.

Additional Information

Also awarded a DSO and DSC.
Linton was responsible for sinking 100,000 tons of shipping and destroying three trains with deck guns.
Turbulent was hunted 13 times and had approx 250 depth charges aimed at her.
A pub was named after him in his home town of Newport
Linton’s body was never recovered.

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