‘Cherished’ WWII veteran John Atkinson, 98, dies heading to Anzac Day Dawn Service

A “cherished” WWII veteran has died on his way to pay tribute to his fallen mates.

A “cherished” WWII veteran has died heading to an Anzac Day Dawn Service.

John Atkinson, 98, who served in Darwin, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines during the conflict, fell from his gopher after suffering a suspected medical episode while travelling from his home to the Port Broughton Dawn Service at the town’s war memorial on Thursday morning.

Passers-by helped Mr Atkinson, who planned to lead his local RSL’s march, back onto his scooter before he collapsed again.

He died at the scene.

Port Broughton RSL president Sandra Owen said Mr Atkinson would always be remembered.

“He was just cherished,” Ms Owen said.

Ms Owen said Mr Atkinson had led the local Anzac Day march for several years.

WWII veteran John Atkinson, 98, died heading to the Port Broughton Dawn Service. Picture: Tim Davies/Clare Media

“He always put the rum in our coffee at the gunfire breakfast and we always had to watch him to make sure it wasn’t too strong.

“A few weeks ago I bumped into him … and he said ‘I haven’t been very well, but I’ll be there on Anzac Day to put the rum in the coffee.

“What a wonderful, wonderful man.”

Mr Atkinson was featured on the front page of the Yorke Peninsula Country Times on Tuesday.

Mr Atkinson joined the RAAF as an 18-year-old after being inspired by his family’s legacy, which included his father Arthur’s service in the Australian Imperial Forces in Gallipoli, the paper reported.

Mr Atkinson joined the RAAF as an 18-year-old. Picture: Michelle Daw/Yorke Peninsula Country Times

“I wanted to be a rear gunner – I was the right size – but just as well I didn’t, because I wouldn’t be here today,” Mr Atkinson was quoted as saying.

“They used to wash them (dead gunners) out of the aircraft.”

Mr Atkinson reportedly travelled from his home at Pitcairn Station near Peterborough to Adelaide to sign up to serve his country in Adelaide the day after he turned 18.

“I walked into the old bank on the corner of King William and North Terrace and the joker looked at me,” he told the Yorke Peninsula Country Times.

“I saw the air force fella there and he laughed at me. I could have picked him up and threw him over the counter. I was pretty powerful in those days.

“He said you can’t join up until I see your birth certificate.”

Mr Atkinson’s son Russell told the York Peninsula Country Times on Thursday his father was “very much looking forward to taking part in the local from the RSL, as he has done many times before”.

“He was so independent and resilient,” he said.

Mr Atkinson’s close friend and former Port Broughton RSL president George Blair-Nicholas said his mate of more than two decades

“Out of 10, he was probably around the 15 mark,” Mr Blair-Nicholas said.

“He was a heart bigger than what he was.”

Mr Atkinson, who joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1943, was a member of the Port Broughton RSL for at least 20 years.

Mourners took to social media to pay tribute to Mr Atkinson.

“RIP you absolute legend,” one person wrote.

“I’m so proud to be Australian,” another posted.

Several people remembered Mr Atkinson as a “lovely man”.

Mr Atkinson was a “cherished” member of his local RSL. Picture: Tim Davies/Clare Media

“He was a very active member right up until not very long ago when his health started to get hold of him,” Mr Blair-Nicholas said.

“He was always jovial even when he was crook.

“He was one of those people you feel privileged to know.

“It’s left a mighty big hole for all our people here.

“It really is something that I don’t think we’ll ever get over.

“It’s a big loss because he was a friend to everybody.”

Ms Owen said RSL members would celebrate Mr Atkinson’s life on Thursday.

“We’re sad but we’re just remembering Johnny for the beautiful soul he was,” Ms Owen said.

“Anzac Day now will always be Johnny’s day.”

Originally published as ‘Cherished’ WWII veteran John Atkinson, 98, dies heading to Anzac Day Dawn Service