James Easton was a prisoner of war during World War II and survived three and a half years of starvation, sickness and beatings at the hands of the Japanese. Photo / Ryman Healthcare
James Easton was a prisoner of war during World War II and survived three and a half years of starvation, sickness and beatings at the hands of the Japanese. Photo / Ryman Healthcare
New Zealand’s oldest man and former prisoner of war James “Jim” Easton has died at the age of 108.
The St Heliers Grace Joel Retirement Village resident was believed to be the oldest living man in New Zealand and Australia’s oldest surviving World War II veteran.
An obituary for thesemi-supercentenarian said he passed away peacefully on September 17 at the village.
“Loved husband of the late Maureen and devoted father of the late Vikki. Will be sadly missed by his friends,” it read.
During World War II, Easton was a prisoner of war, surviving three and a half years of starvation, sickness and beatings at the hands of the Japanese. While captive, he spent time constructing the notorious Burma railway, dubbed the “Railway of Death”.
Jim Easton pictured on Christmas Day in 1945. Photo / Ryman Healthcare
When he was released from the prison camp, weighing 47kg, medics told him the years of ill-treatment would likely knock at least 10 years off his life.
Many of Easton’s friends suffered nightmares but he managed to develop a clever technique to prevent them.
“Whenever I felt one coming on, I’d dream of nude women. That took it away immediately,” he told the Herald after his 106th birthday.
Easton’s funeral is set to be held on Monday in the Auckland suburb of Meadowbank.
Among those in attendance will be the Major General of the Australian Army, Greg Novak, and possibly representatives from the New Zealand Defence Force.
Ryman Healthcare general manager of operations Karyn Nobilo told the Herald it was an honour for the Grace Joel Retirement Village team to be involved in Easton’s care over the past six years.
“Jim was a truly unique individual who never let his incredibly difficult experience during the war dull his enthusiasm for life, his sense of humour or his willpower,” she said.
“He was a very special member of the village who brought much character and warmth, and the team will feel his absence deeply.
“We are all very proud to have played a part in looking after him in his later life.”
In 2022, Easton was believed to be the first New Zealander to receive a birthday card from two monarchs: one from King Charles III for his 106th, and one from Queen Elizabeth II for his 100th.
Easton credited his longevity to never smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol.
James "Jim" Easton is believed to be the first Kiwi to receive a birthday card from two different monarchs. Photo / Ryman Healthcare
“When I was 12 years old I would walk past the pub at 3pm and see all the miners walking in, and half an hour later I would walk back past and they would be out the front beating the daylights out of each other.
“As a child, I always said, ‘when I grow up I’m not going into those places’, and I never have.
“And here I am now, Jimmy’s the king of the world,” he said with his customary sense of humour.
The Scottish national spent his formative years in New South Wales, Australia, and joined the Australian Army at the age of 23, where he was a signalman in the 8th Division Signals regiment.
After returning to New Zealand in 1947, Easton had an idea to “go into show business” – joining the touring fairgrounds that would travel around the country, which started a 65-year career. He retired in his mid-90s.
Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.
