Local Hero

In Memory of Commander JOHN WALLACE LINTON VC, DSO, DSC Son of Edward Maples Linton and Margaret Gertrude Linton, husband of Nancy Kate Linton. Remembered with honour From the outbreak of the war in 1939 to May 1943 which was the month of HMS Turbulent's last patrol in the Mediterranean, Commander Linton was responsible for sinking approximately 100,000 tons of enemy shipping, including a cruiser, a destroyer, a U-boat and 28 other ships. In addition Turbulent destroyed three trains by gun fire. In his last year Commander Linton spent 254 days at sea, submerged for nearly half the time, his ship was hunted 13 times and had 250 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. HMS TURBULENT was a Triton Class Submarine launched on 12 May 1941 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Barrow in Furness. She displaced 1090 tons and was armed with one 4-inch quick firing gun and eleven 21-inch torpedo tubes of which 5 were external to the pressure hull and could not be reloaded at sea. The submarine joined the fleet on 3rd January 1942 and lived up to her name with a series of daring patrols in the Mediterranean during which she sank 52,000 tons of enemy shipping during 1942, and a further 14,000 tons in the first 6 weeks of 1943. Sadly, HMS TURBULENT did not survive the war and was sunk on 12th March 1943 during her 13th patrol. None of the 59 ship’s company survived. During her short but violent career her Commanding Officer, Commander John Wallace Linton DSO, DSC was awarded the Victoria Cross and the submarine was awarded the battle honour “Mediterranean 1942”. Picture - Crew of HM s/m Turbulent laying a wreath at the site of the official grave of the ships company from HM s/m Turbulent Lost with all hands 12th March 1943