Gosport's Tom Brown 'amazed' to celebrate his 100th birthday

Born on October 17, 1920, in the Middlesex Hospital, London, Tom grew up with his sister Gladys before joining the Territorial Army.

He says: ‘I was in 135 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, and was mobilised during the Second World War.

‘I was captured by the Japanese in Singapore and remained a prisoner of war throughout the rest of the war.

‘I was put to work on the Thailand and Burma railway and was treated badly by the Japanese. Many of my peers died at the hands of the Japanese or through disease.

‘I survived despite catching malaria three times.

‘After the war, I worked for the Post Office.’

In 1947, Tom married Eileen in Worthing.

Tom explains: ‘My mother introduced us after I returned from being a prisoner of war. My mother used to buy fruit in the shop Eileen worked in.

‘Sadly, Eileen died in 2012 after many happy years together.’

The couple had one daughter together, Alex Knight, and they have one granddaughter, Sarah.

Now, Tom is a proud great-grandfather to Callum and Poppy.

During his later years, Tom played the organ at his local church and also practises on his one at home.

To celebrate his 100th birthday, Tom enjoyed a socially-distanced tea party with his family on October 17.

And when he was asked what he thought was the most important lesson in life, Tom smiles and says: ‘To be patient.’