Jack Jennings: Final farewell to 'hero' Burma Railway veteran

Mr Jennings received a guard of honour by the Royal British Legion at the service

The funeral of Jack Jennings, thought to be the last surviving veteran of the infamous Burma Railway, has taken place.

Mr Jennings died aged 104 at his care home in Torquay, Devon, in January.

Captured in 1942, he was among thousands of prisoners forced by the Japanese to build the railway between what is now Thailand and Myanmar.

Paying tribute, his granddaughter Carolyn Heath described him as her "hero".

She said: "He did just amazing things in a very simple way.

"He was a carpenter and of course, that helped him out in the war when he was building the railway, but he was also really helpful to us at home and just was a jack of all trades, really.

"We loved him very much, he was always very affectionate and caring, and we always played games together."

Mr Jennings celebrating his 103rd birthday

Thousands died during the forced labour construction of what became known as the "death railway", but he was one of the survivors.

Mr Jennings received a guard of honour by the Royal British Legion at the service at The Little Theatre in Torquay.

'Such an inspiration'

Captured on 15 February 1942 in Singapore as part of the Cambridgeshire Regiment, Mr Jennings remained a prisoner of the Japanese until the end of August 1945.

He survived his ordeal, and overcame a period of serious illness, to return to his childhood sweetheart Lilian Mary, whom he married in December 1945.

His daughter Hazel Heath said although he did not talk about his experiences for many years, he was "proud in the end", later writing a memoir about his time as a prisoner of war.

Mr Jennings moved to Torquay later in life and enjoyed playing the harmonica for people, his daughters said.

Daughter Carol Barrett said: "He used to go to Oldway Mansion in Paignton and he loved to go there and entertain the ladies.

"He'd play all the old war time songs, he was quite the ladies man in his last few years, he could still play a good tune."

Carolyn said: "I couldn't imagine having a better granddad. He was such an inspiration and I'll always remember him."