Johnny Ramensky

For other uses, see Ramensky (disambiguation).

Johnny Ramensky
Born
Jonas Ramanauskas

(1906-04-06)6 April 1906[1][a]
Glenboig, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
Died4 November 1972(1972-11-04) (aged 66)[1]
Perth Royal Infirmary, Perth, Scotland
NationalityLithuanian
Other namesJohn Ramsay
OccupationCriminal
Spouse(s)Margaret McManus (m. 1931; her death 1934[1][b])
Lisa or Lily Mulholland (unknown)[2]
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1943–1946
UnitRoyal Fusiliers
Commandos
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsMilitary Medal

Johnny Ramensky MM, also known as John Ramsay, Gentleman Johnny, and Gentle Johnny (6 April 1906[a] – 4 November 1972)[1] was a Scottish career criminal who used his safe-cracking abilities as a commando during the Second World War. A popular song about him, "The Ballad of Johnny Ramensky", was written in 1959 by Norman Buchan, later to become a Labour Party member of parliament, and recorded by singer Enoch Kent, Buchan's brother-in-law.[4] Though a career criminal, Ramensky received the nickname "Gentle Johnny" as he never used violence when being apprehended by the police.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Gentle Johnny". National Archives of Scotland. 13 December 2006. Archived from the original on 3 January 2008.
  2. ^ a b "The life and crimes of 'gentleman' Johnny Ramensky". Daily Record. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Johnny Ramensky 1905 – 1972 (or Ramanauckas or Ramsay)". June 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  4. ^ "The great escaper". The Scotsman. 31 March 2005. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011.


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