Linton's tragic death.

There are two different accounts of the crash that happened on November 18th, 1942.

The tail gunner, Terence Charles Beddowes, was the sole survivor and gave an account

of what happened to Bill Abbott, while he was in hospital, just one day after the crash.

Bill copied his account of events down, and sent it to Innes Jones by airmail.

Then there is the account of the crash from Linton's military record, which differs slightly.

I am inclined to believe Terence. He was in the plane, and he gave his account

promptly, therefore leaving no time for details to be forgotten.

However, I will write them both and you, the reader, can form your own opinion.

Terence Charles Beddowes' account:

"Linton tested the aircraft (Wellington Bomber) in the afternoon, and he considered it serviceable."

*(Despite the fact that for the three previous days, the pilots who had flown it had put it as 'unserviceable for night flying'.) *

"We took off with almost an overload of leaflets, which are very difficult to jettison if anything goes wrong. We climbed up to 11,000 feet and set course for Nantes, France.

Somewhere near Aldershot one of the engines failed, and as we were very heavy loaded, the aircraft could not maintain height on the one engine."

"Linton dropped flares to try and find a place to land, but we ran into a lone barrage balloon and the cable ripped a wing off, and we spun into the ground."

Linton's Military Record account:

On the 18th of November, 1942, Sgt Jones was the pilot of a Wellington Bomber aircraft which crash landed.

21 O.T.U. Wellington 1c T2574, Operation Nickel, Nantes region. (Nickel was the code name for the dropping of propaganda leaflets by the R.A.F.)

Aircraft took off from R.A.F. Station Moreton-in-Marsh at 1743 hours. Aircraft set course for the Nantes region of France. While flying at 11,000 feet, over the English Channel, and engine caught fire and it can only be assumed, that having turned back, the pilot decided to carry out a premeditated descent through cloud.

While doing so, he flew into the ground between Liss and Longmore, 4 miles West-North-West from Liphook, Hampshire. Of the five crew members, T.C. Beddowes was the only survivor.

Above: Linton's funeral.

Linton's pilot friend Bill Abbott, a fellow Kiwi, flew to Linton's base (Moreton-In-Marsh) when he heard of the accident. It was Bill that made sure that Linton's personal belongings were sent back to New Zealand safely.

Above: Linton's funeral.

Above: Linton's funeral.

Below: Map of where the plane crashed.

Above: Linton's cross, before a stone was erected.

Above: Linton's grave today.

The Jones family received letters of sympathy from all over New Zealand, and England when news of Linton's passing became known.

One such letter is from a M. Lawrence to Innes Jones...

Dear Mr Jones,

I expect you will be surprised to hear from me, but I do hope you will not be offended I have written to you. I am very sorry indeed to hear about your brother, and only hope the blow has not fallen too harshly. I did not know your brother personally, but all his colleagues here thought him a grand fellow.

My reason for plucking up courage to write to you, is to tell you that I am putting flowers on your brother's grave every week. I want you to know that although you are too far away to see your brother's grave, I will be looking after it for you.

I always put flowers on my best friend's grave (who was killed February last year) every week and I do not mind getting the extra flowers. I sincerely hope you have a good Christmas and wish you all the best for the New Year.

Please believe me, when I say I am only too pleased to do this little thing, just a little towards what your brother has helped to do in England.

Hoping you will not mind me writing,

Yours Sincerely,

M. Lawrence

The details of the rest of the 21OTU crew:

Below: Linton's obituary in the Marlborough Express, Wednesday, December 16, 1942.

Below: Two memorials inserted by Linton’s Aunt, Clara Elizabeth Gilchrist (nee Jones),

and her daughter, Jean.

Below: Newspaper clipping about a Welcome Home dance in Havelock, where Linton and Trooper W. Andrews were remembered with a moment of silence.

If anyone reading this has any additional information about Linton, please fill out the contact form below. I would love to hear from you.

I would be particularly interested in hearing from descendants of any of the pall-bearers, or anyone present at Linton's funeral.