Today we honor James Easton Of The Australian Army

 




🇳🇿🇦🇺WWII uncovered: 🎂 Happy 107th Birthday to James Easton of the 8th Division Signals of the Australian Army and New Zealand's Oldest Known World War II Veteran 

Please take a moment to join us at WWII uncovered in wishing Mr. James Easton a most glorious 107th Birthday. 

"James ‘Curly’ Easton was born on the 12th of December 1916 in Kirkentilloch, just outside Glasgow, Scotland. His family left Scotland for Winnipeg in Canada before settling in Australia’s Hunter Valley in New South Wales when James was 12 years old."

At the age of 23 years old James served as a Signalman in 8th Division Signals of the Australian Army stationed in Singapore. After a three month stand against the Japanese James was taken prisoner and held at the troops’ base in Changi. 

In 1942 Easton, along with 7,000 other Australian and British Prisoners of War designated as "F party" was transferred to Ban Pong, Thailand to build a railway going up to Kanchanaburi in Burma. They would march by night, set up camp and work 16 hour days despite an inadequate diet and exposure to an abundance of disease. These brave men survived on sheer will alone. 

According to a 2020 Ryman Healthcare News interview:  "After the war James returned to Australia and worked with the touring fairgrounds traveling across the country until a mate suggested he join him in New Zealand. There he developed a small game for the showgrounds and so began 65 years of showbusiness life. James has travelled to Singapore and Thailand six times to pay his respects at the POW cemeteries and only stopped his annual trips back to Sydney to march on Anzac Day at the age of 94."

Jim celebrated his 107th Birthday today with a party at the Grace Joel Retirement Village in Auckland. Joined by extended family from Australia and Captain Shani Edwards and Corporal Matthew Woods of the Australian Army, Jim enjoyed his favorite - chocolate cake - and made plans to celebrate next year for his 108th.

Happy Birthday Mr Easton you are truly a member of the Greatest Generation!!

WWII uncovered©️ description and photos sourced by Memories of Service (RSA Memories of Service interview series produced by New Zealand on Screen) and Ryman Healthcare News 12 December 2023 (Fair Use Photos - Ryman Healthcare)

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