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James Easton

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James Easton
James Easton
Easton on his 108th birthday in 2024.
Birth: 12 December 1916
Kirkintilloch, Scotland, UK
Death: 17 September 2025
Saint Heliers, Auckland, New Zealand
Age: 108 years, 279 days
Country: United KingdomUK New ZealandNZL
Centenarian

James "Jim" Easton (12 December 1916 – 17 September 2025) was a Scottish-born New Zealand centenarian who was the oldest known living man in New Zealand at the time of his death.

Biography[]

James Easton was born in Kirkintilloch, Scotland, UK 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, Easton joined the Australian army in the 8th division signals. He was captured by the Japanese during the fall of Singapore. Then, he spent 3 years as a prisoner of war in Singapore, Burma and Thailand, including 12 months working on the Burma Railway 16 hours a day. After he was discharged, he weighed only 47 kg.

Easton 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.

Following the death of 107-year-old Jack Coe on 14 May 2023, Easton became the oldest known living man in New Zealand. In 2024, he contracted COVID-19, but had recovered as of his 108th birthday.

James Easton died in a retirement home in Saint Heliers, Auckland, New Zealand, on 17 September 2025 at the age of 108 years, 279 days.

References[]


New Zealand's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E)

Christopher Murray • Alexander Hughes • Maxwell Wallenstein • Wesley Firth • Frederick Fox • David Orange • Thomas Salmon • Allan Watkins • Edward Leigh • Arthur Bates • William Swensson • Charles Campbell • Hubert Harden • William Hayes • James Hill • Lawrence Blyth • Bright Williams • Cecil Hamilton • Ernest Ryland • Trevor Henry • Harold Clark • Dudley Sainsbury • Taiwung Yu Hoi • Harry Andrews • Ian Chirnside • Bob Edwards • Howard Buss • Ronald Hermanns • Bill Mitchell • Laurence Reynolds • Jack Coe • James Easton • Lloyd Geering

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