Ex-prisoner of war recalls 'torpedo after torpedo'

James "Jim" Wren served in the Royal Navy during World War II

One of the oldest surviving veterans of World War II has told the Duchess of Edinburgh about his experience being held as a prisoner of war by Japanese troops, after his Royal Navy ship faced "torpedo after torpedo".

James "Jim" Wren survived the sinking of HMS Repulse in December 1941, but was captured in Singapore two months later and held for three-and-a-half years.

"We didn't know when our next meal was coming or where our next drink was coming from… they had no idea how to deal with prisoners of war," he said.

The 105-year-old met the duchess in Salisbury, Wiltshire, ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day). He was joined by four generations of his family.

Mr Wren told the duchess he initially wanted to join the Royal Air Force, or the British Army, but was rejected from both when he applied at 19.

He then joined the Royal Navy after his uncle, a retired Royal Marine, was recalled on reserve.

The Duchess of Edinburgh met Mr Wren in Salisbury

After completing the eight-month training course, Mr Wren was posted to join the battlecruiser HMS Repulse in autumn 1940.

The ship was sunk by Japanese aircraft off the coast off Malaya, in what is now Malaysia.

Mr Wren said: "It was around 11:00 in the morning, I was having a cup of tea on the mess deck and the alarm was raised.

"I dropped my cup and as I left the mess deck, the first bomb dropped right behind me.

"Fortunately, it didn't explode – I was able to go down two or three decks before it exploded.

"It was torpedo after torpedo," he added.

Mr Wren showed the duchess old photographs and a commando dagger

The veteran, who grew up in Sussex, was held as a prisoner in Sumatra until August 1945, after Japan surrendered.

He said his family "suffered" until the end of the war as they did not know if he was still alive in captivity.

Mr Wren's son-in-law, Andy Dables, said the 105-year-old did not start sharing his war memories until he was 99.

Mr Dables said: "We are just impressed that he remembers everything – he's as sharp as any.

"But you wouldn't just forget anything like that though, would you?" he added.