James Easton (born 12 December 1916) is a Scottish-born New Zealand centenarian. He became the oldest known living man in New Zealand following the death of Jack Coe on 14 May 2023.
Biography[]
James Easton was born in Kirkintilloch, Scotland on 12 December 1916. When he was 3 years old he moved with his family to Canada before settling in the Hunter Valley Region of Australia when he was 11. He left school at 14 and went "hoboing" on trains, travelling the country with a friend and working odd jobs for food. Later he turned to street photography where he would take photos of military men before they headed overseas to fight in the war. In 1940 he joined the Australian army in the 8th division signals. He was captured by the Japanese and spent 3 years as a prisoner of war in Burma. After he was discharged he weighed 47 kg. He ran Showgrounds up and down the country of New Zealand. He married his wife Maureen and had one daughter Vikki. Vikki passed away in December 2016 a few days before his 100th birthday. James currently lives in a retirement home in Saint Heliers, Auckland, New Zealand at the age of 107 years.
References[]
- Jim celebrates his 104th birthday
- Restrictions lift in time for Jim’s 105th
- Signalman a living legacy at age 106
- Semi-Supercentenarian: 106-year-old believed to be first Kiwi to receive birthday card from two monarchs
- Ryman’s oldest NZ resident turns 106!
- New Zealand’s oldest man Jim Easton celebrates 107th birthday