Ukraine fighter honoured to be at Ardrishaig memorial
A man who sold his yacht to be a volunteer soldier in the Ukraine will lay a wreath at Ardrishaig's Remembrance Day ceremony.
Thomas Jones, who lives in the village with his Ukrainian wife Iryna, says he was honoured when Church of Scotland minister the Reverend David Carruthers invited him to take part.
Representing the Ukraine military at the cenotaph on Sunday November 13, he will wear the army beret and also the bravery medals that were awarded to him in recognition of his service to the country where he went to help in 2015 – and could have lost his life when a house fell on him during a direct missile attack.
The 52-year-old, who sold his Brighton-based marine yacht and charters business to go and fight, stayed on in the Ukraine despite his injuries to teach English at a military academy.
For safety reasons in March, he left the country with his wife and pet dog Luca two days after war with Russia was declared. It took them 10 days to reach London, penniless because banks had collapsed. Thomas sold interviews to TV and media to pay their way.
But it was a job prospect as a fisherman on Mull and a visit to an old friend in Ardrishaig that eventually brought them to Argyll to make their new home.
‘I'd gone to Mull to try out as a creel fisherman but discovered it was 30 years too late for me! On the way back I detoured to see a friend in Ardrishaig, who I'd met while fighting in the Ukraine.
‘That visit turned out to be the new start I was looking for.
‘I went on to be offered some work at Stag garage where I work just minimal hours because of injuries and health issues that play up. They have been really understanding.
‘Scotland has been so kind to us and the community here has been second to none in welcoming us and making us feel at home. This is a special place and we are grateful to be here,' said Thomas.
‘It might rain a lot here but it is better raining rain than missiles,' said Thomas, who will be wearing a third medal at the wreath-laying ceremony, sent to him for his ‘good deed' representing the Ukraine military at the event.
‘I am so honoured to be asked to lay a wreath on behalf of the Ukraine military. This struggle and war is not new.
‘Since 2014, Ukraine has needed weapons, aid and medical supplies,' he said, adding: ‘Many lives have been lost. I have lost very good friends, people I've taught and commanders and like all those in other conflicts, they must be remembered.'
Two of Thomas's medals were re-issued and sent to him, along with the beret, by a Lt Colonel from the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi Military Academy in Lviv so he could wear them with pride on Remembrance Day.
Thomas had originally turned down the honours, asking for them to be awarded instead to a fully-serving Ukrainian soldier or to the family of one who died for the cause.
z Remembrance services will be taking place at war memorials across Mid Argyll this Sunday with the annual two-minute silence at 11am, as well as at 11am today, November 11.