LONDON — Former prisoner of war Arthur Titherington, who died last month at the age of 88, was one of Britain's foremost campaigners in the battle to get an apology and compensation from Japan over wartime atrocities.

For years Titherington pursued cases in the Japanese courts but failed to get the redress he demanded from the government.

Japanese and British officials eager to promote reconciliation privately were frustrated by Titherington's call for a "meaningful apology" from Tokyo.