John Chadwick (/tdwk/; 21 May 1920 24 November 1998) was

an English linguist and classical scholar who, with Alice Kober and Michael Ventris, was most
notable for the decipherment of Linear B.
Chadwick was born in East Sheen, Richmond-upon-Thames, and educated at St Paul's
School and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He served as an officer in the Royal Navy's
Special Branch during the Second World War.[1] In May 1942, he was transferred to intelligence
duties at the naval base HMS Nile in Alexandria, Egypt, and worked on breaking lower-level
Italian naval codes.[2] Chadwick was working on Italian naval codes as an Able Seaman when, in
September 1942, he was suddenly (and immediately) promoted to Temporary Sub-Lieutenant as
the material was classed as Officers Only. His superior Commander Murray had exploded when
told that Chadwick would need six months training in England before promotion. Chadwick
deduced from some R/T traffic meant to be handled at Bletchley Park that a British submarine
had been sunk near Taranto.[3]