Johnny Ramensky, also known as John Ramsay and Gentle Johnny (April 6 1905 – November 4 1972) was a Scottish career criminal who used his safe-cracking abilities as a commando during World War II. Popular songs about him have been written by Labour MP Norman Buchan and recorded by Hamish Imlach.
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Early life
Ramensky was born Yonas Ramanauckas, the son of Lithuanian immigrant parents, at Glenboig, near Coatbridge, and initially worked down the coal mines as his father had. Here he became familiar with the uses of dynamite. During the depression of the 1920s following the first world war Ramensky's familly were forced to move to the slums of the Gorbals, in Glasgow.
Career
Throughout his life, Ramensky demonstrated great strength and gymnastic skill which he used to begin a career as a burglar, followed by graduating to safe-cracking. During his criminal career, Ramensky maintained that he never targeted individuals' houses but only businesses and he became famous for never resorting to violence despite being arrested numerous times, resulting in the nickname "Gentleman (or Gentle) Johnny". Having been denied a licence to attend his wife's funeral, Ramnesky began another series of feats which led to part of his fame. Ramensky was the last man to be shackled in a Scottish prison cell, as well as the first to escape from Peterhead Prison.
Military
When the British Army was looking for the right combination of skills to take on some special forces tasks they contacted Ramensky in prison. He was offered a pardon in return for putting his skills at the disposal of the Army. He enlisted with the Royal Fusiliers in January 1943, becoming an instructor in the Commandos. Ramensky, using his safe-blowing skills, performed a number of sabotage missions behind enemy lines, and he retrieved documents from Axis headquarters, including Rommel's headquarters in North Africa and Goering's headquarters in the Schorfheide. This culminated during the Italian campaign, where 14 embassy safes were blown in only one day. Although he was decorated and pardoned, Ramensky was unable to give up his safe-cracking lifestyle and spent the time after the war in and out of jail several times, eventually dying in Perth Prison.
References
- Gentle Johnny, at the National Archives of Scotland
- Johnny Ramensky, FirstFoot.com
- Famous Scottish safe-breakers
