Duchess of Edinburgh Meets 105-Year-Old WWII Veteran in Salisbury

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, met with 105-year-old Royal Marines veteran James 'Jim' Wren at the Sarum Manor Care Home in Salisbury to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Japan (VJ) Day. Wren shared his harrowing experiences of surviving the sinking of HMS Repulse by Japanese torpedoes and enduring over three years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Sumatra during World War II. The Duchess, who is patron of the Java Far East Prisoner of War Club 1942, listened intently as Wren recounted the sinking, his rescue, and subsequent capture, highlighting the brutal conditions faced by POWs. During their meeting, they looked through photo albums, including pictures of Wren's family and wartime memorabilia, and the Duchess met four generations of his family. Sophie expressed her honor in meeting Wren, showing visible emotion as she engaged with his stories of sacrifice and resilience. The encounter underscored the enduring legacy of those who served in the Far East during the war and the importance of commemorating their sacrifices.