Crowds remember Newport VC hero 'Tubby Linton' (From South Wales Argus)

Crowds remember Newport VC hero 'Tubby Linton'

2:10pm Saturday 16th March 2013 in Gwent news

CROWDS braved the miserable weather yesterday when they gathered to remember a Gwent wartime hero on the banks of the River Usk in Newport.

Malpas-born John Wallace Linton VC was killed when the HMS Turbulent sank off the coast of Sardinia in March 1943, after it was hit by a depth charge.

Commander 'Tubby' Linton, who was well known throughout the submarine service for his determination, died along with his crew, almost certainly as a result of Italian depth-charging.

A minute's silence was held to mark the 70th anniversary of his death.

Wreaths were thrown over into the river from Newport Bridge at a memorial service attended by around 30 people.

Among those in who attended were Newport's deputy mayor Cllr Cliff Suller and his wife Christine and members of the Merchant Navy Association.

Doug Piddington, secretary of the Royal Naval Association Newport branch who organise the event, said the rain thankfully held off until the end of the service.

He explained how the submarine went down sometime between March 13 and 18 and the group pick a day when the tide is low to hold the memorial.

They used to lay wreaths on the memorial near Newport Bridge but now drop them into the water after repeated thefts and vandalism.