Johnny Ramensky MM, also known as John Ramsay, Gentleman Johnny, and Gentle Johnny (6 April 1906 – 4 November 1972) 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. Though a career criminal, Ramensky received the nickname "Gentle Johnny" as he never used violence when being apprehended by the police. Early life Ramensky was born Yonas Ramanauckas or Jonas Ramanauckas, the son of Lithuanian immigrant parents, at Glenboig, a mining village in North Lanarkshire, near Coatbridge. His father died when Ramensky was about eight and the remaining family moved to the Gorbals, in the south side of Glasgow. In Glasgow, he attended Rutherglen Academy, and by eleven he had begun committing crimes, eventually, at the age of 15, 16 or 18, being sent to Polmont Borstal, spending three years there. He initially worked down the coal mines, similar to his father who had been a clay miner, and it was there he became familiar with the uses of dynamite. Criminal career Throughout his life, Ramensky demonstrated great strength and gymnastics skills which he used to begin a career as a burglar, followed by graduating to safe-cracking, also known in the underworld as a Peterman. During his criminal career, Ramensky maintained that he never targeted individuals' houses but only businesses and he became known for never resorting to violence despite being arrested numerous times, resulting in the nickname "Gentleman (or Gentle) Johnny". Detective Superintendent Robert Colquhoun, one of his old adversaries, when taken ill, was sent a message by Ramensky wishing him a speedy recovery, suggesting he had been working too hard in pursuing him. In October 1931, Ramensky had married Margaret McManus and appears to have stayed out of trouble until March 1934 when he was sentenced to five years at HM Prison Peterhead. According to several reports, Margaret died in 1934 and, after being denied parole to attend her funeral, Ramensky made his first escape on 4 November 1934. His escape, the first ever from Peterhead Prison, was short lived. He travelled between and was caught 28 hours after his escape. After being returned to prison he was placed in solitary confinement and shackled. Later in