I met John Thomas - or JT, as he was better known - in the early 70s, when war had taken its grisly hold on the north of the country.
Born in Birmingham, his family left England and moved back to Belfast’s Sailortown, when he was a kid. I was from the New Lodge (a five minute walk away, if you’re a fast walk!) and first met him in a well-known snooker hall in the area. At the time, I was 15 and a volunteer of Na Fianna Éireann; he a well-known and highly-respected volunteer of Óglaigh na hÉireann. I was somewhat in awe of him and other members of the Army, but despite our age difference, he always had time for younger members of the Republican Movement, giving advice or encouragement.
JT’s first saw incarceration by the British was in November of ‘72 when he was captured by the British and brought to the notorious torture centre of Palace Barracks. From there he was sent to the Cages of Long Kesh. Upon his release from the Kesh in ‘75, he reported back to active service duty, but was captured a year later and sent to ‘The Crum’--Crumlin Road Gaol. There, we both met up again, after having known each other over the years, for one reason or another.
JT’s first saw incarceration by the British was in November of ‘72 when he was captured by the British and brought to the notorious torture centre of Palace Barracks. From there he was sent to the Cages of Long Kesh. Upon his release from the Kesh in ‘75, he reported back to active service duty, but was captured a year later and sent to ‘The Crum’--Crumlin Road Gaol. There, we both met up again, after having known each other over the years, for one reason or another.
In The Crum, he became O/C of the remand prisoners, where his leadership quality came through. This time period was a particularly harsh time for republicans, as political status had been taken from us, reneged on by the British, and strong leadership was needed.
Eventually, JT was sent to the H-Blocks for 10 years by the notorious non-jury Diplock Courts. He immediately went on the protest, of what became known as the Blanket Protest, and was one of the early Blanketmen. During the Blanket days, he became one of the characters of the protest, always instigating morale-boosting techniques, be they sing-song (though I have to admit I never heard him sing in the wing!) quizzes, history lessons, or helping in the famous ‘Book At Bedtime’, a very popular form of entertainment for the POWs.
On Sunday, 25th of September, 1983,one of the greatest escapes of prisoners of war took place in H-Block 7 when 38 men escaped. JT was one of a few hand-picked trusted volunteers to help facilitate the escape. JT did not go on the escape because he was soon to be released from the hellhole, otherwise he would have been right there with the other men, such was his courage.
Despite the nightmare years of the Blanket Protest, I am honoured to have met many of Ireland’s greats while a prisoner in the H-Blocks. JT will always have a special place in my thoughts and heart. Later, I would immortalise him in my memoir, On The Brinks. I remember telling him I was writing it, and that I was including him. He looked at me sceptically. However, when I eventually gave him the book a year later, he phoned me to say he loved it, that he couldn’t put it down, and that it was the best book he had ever read about the Blanket Protest and Hunger Strikes. That was the greatest compliment I could ever have wished for.
JT. One of the genuinely good guys willing to help anyone who needed it, anytime or place. Never forgotten by his comrades.
On Sunday, 25th of September, 1983,one of the greatest escapes of prisoners of war took place in H-Block 7 when 38 men escaped. JT was one of a few hand-picked trusted volunteers to help facilitate the escape. JT did not go on the escape because he was soon to be released from the hellhole, otherwise he would have been right there with the other men, such was his courage.
Despite the nightmare years of the Blanket Protest, I am honoured to have met many of Ireland’s greats while a prisoner in the H-Blocks. JT will always have a special place in my thoughts and heart. Later, I would immortalise him in my memoir, On The Brinks. I remember telling him I was writing it, and that I was including him. He looked at me sceptically. However, when I eventually gave him the book a year later, he phoned me to say he loved it, that he couldn’t put it down, and that it was the best book he had ever read about the Blanket Protest and Hunger Strikes. That was the greatest compliment I could ever have wished for.
JT. One of the genuinely good guys willing to help anyone who needed it, anytime or place. Never forgotten by his comrades.
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| Sam Millar is an internationally acclaimed author and former Blanketman. |
JT was a shrewd guy. Really liked him and appreciated his opinion. A very calm laid back person. I didn't know him until the late 80s when introduced to him by Pat Livingstone. JT was one of those rare people who was considered to part of the IRA elite but who never displayed one elitist trait.
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing this Sam.