A DASHING hero from Newport's naval past was remembered as ex-seamen gathered at the memorial of Lieutenant-Commander John 'Tubby' Linton VC.

The Malpas-born commander died when his command, the submarine HMS Turbulent, went down with all hands in March, 1943 after being depth-charged off the Sardinian coast.

"Tubby Linton and his crew were the bravest of the brave who inflicted great loss upon our German and Italian enemies before herself being sunk," Doug Piddington, secretary of the Newport branch of the Royal Naval Association, said.

The ex-sailors were joined on Saturday by Sea Scouts, the Royal British Legion, members of the Merchant Navy Association, Sea Scouts and Old Comrades of the Royal Regiment of Wales. Several standards were present. The service was conducted by the Rev. Fr Edward Mathias-Jones, vicar of St Stephen's, Pill.

A memorial in the form of a bollard commissioned by Newport Maritime Trust 20 years ago honours Newport's only naval Victoria Cross winner.