Funeral for 'Britain’s oldest Royal Marine' takes place in Salisbury today
WW2 veteran Jim Wren is commemorated at St Thomas’ Church
The funeral of Britain’s oldest Royal Marine, Jim Wren, takes place today in Salisbury.
Jim Wren, who passed away peacefully at the age of 105, was the oldest known survivor of the loss of Force Z during World War Two and a Japanese prisoner of war.
Jim was born in Sussex and, after being rejected by the RAF and Army at age 19, joined the Royal Marines, spurred on by his uncle's suggestion.
Deployed to HMS Repulse, Jim's ship was targeted by Japanese bombers on 10th December 1941 in the South China Sea.
Despite Repulse surviving less than 80 minutes in combat, Jim survived along with hundreds of other shipmates.
In his reflections during a Royal Marines Association interview, Jim expressed the camaraderie and trust that united his crew during battle.
Two months later, he was captured by the Japanese from Singapore and spent the remainder of the war enduring difficult conditions in prisoner of war camps.
His 1945 liberation marked a pivotal moment, as described in emotional terms by Jim, after surviving nearly three years of captivity.
Post-war, Jim continued to serve until 1953 before settling in Salisbury with his wife, Margaret, and working as a gardener and groundskeeper.
His legacy extended to the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender last summer, during which His Majesty the King commissioned a portrait of him.
Jim Wren's funeral is held at St Thomas’ Church, St Thomas’ Square, Salisbury, and it welcomes all past and present Royal Marines to commemorate his life.