An SAS hero who took part in the infamous Iranian embassy siege and daring raids during the Falklands War has died aged 82.
Warrant Officer John Thompson died on Saturday evening after a period of ill health.
Originally from Liverpool, Mr Thompson began his military career after joining the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers and was eventually posted to Cyprus on New Year’s day 1964.
He was one of a SAS team flown into the Iranian embassy in London in 1980 after six gunmen took 26 hostages, killed one and threw his body out of the building.
His team stormed the building by abseiling from the roof in a successful rescue bid that killed five of the terrorists.
He was also one of several brave troops used successfully to attack Argentine forces on the Falklands ahead of the main British assault in 1982.
Warrant Officer John Thompson (pictured) died on Saturday evening after a period of ill health
Mr Thompson was one of a SAS team flown into the Iranian embassy in London in 1980 after six gunmen took 26 hostages, killed one and threw his body out of the building
Mr Thompson’s collection of medals includes one from the UN for his work in Cyprus in the 1960s, General Service and Northern Ireland medals, a South Atlantic Medal and the Republic of Korea Service Medal.
Having successfully completed his parachute training with the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, Mr Thompson served with the United Nations in Cyprus before transferring to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Parachute Brigade, in 1969.
In 1974, he gained the rare distinction of being presented at a parade with the Republic of Korea Service Medal after a year there.
Four years later, he successfully applied for and completed his SAS selection and was posted to Boat Troop, ‘A’ Squadron.
In May 1980, he took part in Operation Nimrod to help free hostages being held by terrorists inside the Iranian Embassy in central London.
Mr Thompson and one of his three colleagues from A squadron were sent to the front of building where they fired gas canisters into the embassy – and were pictured doing so.
Mr Thompson served with the United Nations in Cyprus before transferring to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Parachute Brigade, in 1969
Mr Thompson’s collection of medals includes one from the UN for his work in Cyprus in the 1960s, General Service and Northern Ireland medals, a South Atlantic Medal and the Republic of Korea Service Medal
Mr Thompson was secretly dropped in a full three weeks before the full British army arrived in the Falklands, killing the enemy and passing on important information back to the UK without ever being detected
In May 1980, he took part in Operation Nimrod to help free hostages being held by terrorists inside the Iranian Embassy in central London
The following year, he was secretly dropped in a full three weeks before the full British army arrived in the Falklands, killing the enemy and passing on important information back to the UK without ever being detected.
Incredibly he is also the only SAS man top take part in the dramatic siege in Kensington and operations in the South Atlantic after Argentina invaded the British Falkland Islands.
Mr Thompson retired from the Army after the war and worked as a bodyguard in the Middle East.
In 2013, he sold his medals for £17,000 after they were auctioned on the TV Show Dickinson’s Real Deal.
He also said he was the only SAS operative to take part in the Iranian embassy siege and the Falklands because he switched squadron.
Speaking in 2012, Mr Thompson said: ‘We were on standby when the embassy siege happened and an MoD policeman said we were needed.
‘I didn’t want to go because I was just leaving to watch Liverpool play in Birmingham in the third replay of the FA Cup semi final.
‘I remember saying ‘find somebody else’, but in the end I was pleased I didn’t go because we lost 1-0 against Arsenal.’