Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A poignant series of original documentation and artefacts appertaining to Commander J. W. “Tubby” Linton, V.C., D.S.O., D.S.C., Royal Navy, arguably the most famous British submariner of the War, who sank 100,000 tons of enemy shipping prior to his loss in H.M. Submarine Turbulent in March 1943
Midshipman’s Journal, S. 519 type ‘For Use of Junior Officers Afloat’, with ‘J. W. Linton’ in ink to front cover label, and additionally inscribed frontispiece, ‘Mr. J. W. Linton, H.M.S. Dauntless & Royal Oak, from 23rd October 1923 & Jan. 3rd 1925 to 25th September 1924 & 20th December 1925’, comprising 125pp. of diary format hand written entries, and related maps and technical drawings; together with a pre-war exercise book containing numerous newspaper cuttings charting Linton’s prowess on the Rugby field 1927-28, and other cuttings of Naval interest, in addition to entries in the hand of his fiancee, Nancy Kate Pitts-Tucker, including a thank-you-list for wedding presents after their marriage at Lutterworth in 1929, and her photograph album for the period 1924-28 (in excess of 200 images), including a young Linton; a large format photograph of the submarine L. 22 , with Linton on the bridge during a visit by King Amanullah in March 1928, and studio portraits of him in civilian attire and in uniform, each mounted on card; a pencil portrait of Linton, inscribed to ‘Mrs. Linton with very good wishes’ from the artist, and dated March 1944; his Royal Life Saving Society swimming medal, bronze, the reverse officially inscribed, ‘J. W. Linton, July 1921’; a length of V.C. riband with miniature riband fitment; and a presentation cigarette box, ivory, with inscribed silver plaque to lid, ‘Presented to Mrs. Linton by the Chairman and Directors of Vickers-Armstrongs Limited at the Launch of H.M.S. Amphion, 31st August 1944’, overall in good condition and a rare and emotive collection

Together with further memorabilia relating to his son Sub. Lieutenant W. F. Linton, Royal Navy, who was lost in H.M. Submarine Affray in April 1951
“Crossing the Line” certificate, illuminated, card-mounted scroll in the name of ‘W. F. Linton, Midshipman, Royal Navy’, and dated aboard H.M.S. Vengeance on 9 October 1948, together with Royal Naval College Dartmouth Prize Medals (4), in bronze, for Boxing, Regatta and Colts events in the period 1949-51; a quantity of invitations and photographs appertaining to such events as the launching of H.M.S. Turbulent in December 1982, as issued to Mr. J. A. Linton and family; and a cased presentation key with engraved plaque, ‘Presented to J. A. Linton on the Occasion of the Official Opening of Linton Block, H.M.S. Dolphin, Wednesday 19 March 1975’, overall in good condition (Lot) £2000-3000

Details of Linton’s remarkable wartime career need little introduction here, though by way of summary of his extraordinary and prolonged record of gallantry, no better source may be quoted than the citation for his posthumous V.C., announced in the London Gazette of 25 May 1943:

‘From the outbreak of war until the 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, 28 supply ships, some 100,000 tons in all, and destroyed three trains by gunfire. In his last year he spent two hundred and fifty four days at sea, submerged for nearly half that time, and his ship was hunted thirteen times and had two hundred and fifty depth charges aimed at her.

His many brilliant successes were due to his constant activity and skill and the daring which never failed him when there was an enemy to attack. On one occasion, for instance, in H.M.S. Turbulent, he sighted a convoy of two merchantmen and two destroyers travelling in mist and moonlight. He worked his submarine 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 was rewarded. He sank one merchantman and one destroyer outright and set the other merchantman on fire so that she blew up. John Linton me his end when his submarine was sunk in Maddelina Harbour, Italy, on 23 March 1943.’

Following his marriage to Nancy Pitts-Tucker at Lutterworth in 1928, they had two sons, the eldest of whom was William. A naval cadet at the time of is Linton’s death in action, he went to Buckingham Palace with his mother to receive his father’s V.C. from the King on 23 February 1944. He subsequently joined the submarine service and was, as stated, lost in the Affray in the English Channel on 17 April 1951.