One of Australia's last living Rats of Tobruk has been remembered as a man who valued gratitude more than anything, a passionate veteran and a dedicated member of his community.
Sydney Kinsman died on June 15 in Alice Springs, weeks short of his 101st birthday.
His military service and dedication to the Alice Springs community were commemorated by hundreds of people at the Alice Springs Garden Cemetery.
Family members and those who have served in the military were invited to lay poppies on his coffin, in honour of Mr Kinsman's love of the flower synonymous with Anzac Day.
His eldest grandson Benjamin Bruce said everyone seemed to know his grandfather.
Dedicated to service
Born in Adelaide, Mr Kinsman was 19 when he joined the army after lying about his age.
After initially being turned away for being too young, Mr Kinsman changed his birth year to make him a year older.
Mr Kinsman's grandson Jackson Curtis said Mr Kinsman's birthday remained incorrectly recorded at the Australian War Memorial at his grandfather's request.
Mr Kinsman was drafted into the second 48th Infantry Battalion in 1940.
Later that year he and his fellow troops arrived in Palestine where they fought in the Siege of Tobruk, which stretched for 241 days.
Mr Kinsman was shot five months into the battle and "patched up" in the trenches.
He was captured as a prisoner of war in July 1942 and taken to Italy and moved through "many" prisoner of war camps before he escaped with two other prisoners in 1943.
His grandson said his grandfather braved freezing conditions and the harsh environment of the Italian Alps "just like in the movies," before crossing the Swiss border and finding safety in September 1943.
Mr Curtis said his grandfather said little about this time other than to explain that "the Australians were considered the naughty boys" in POW camps and received harsh treatment.
He returned to Adelaide in 1944.
Pillar of community
Mr Kisnman and his wife June Kinsman moved to Alice Springs to work shooting kangaroos in 1948.
He would later work in construction and stay in that industry until his retirement.
Mr Kinsman served on numerous community boards during the next seven decades and dedicated much of his time to community service.
He gave back in other ways too.
Every Christmas Mr Kinsman elaborately decorated his home and invited the town to enjoy his efforts.
Mr Bruce said his grandfather "loved this town and was always delighted by the thoughtful kindness of this community".
Just before since 100th birthday, Mr Curtis said "being happy, having fun, always keep active, hard work, [and] living a good healthy life" were the keys to longevity, along with "giving and sharing with wonderful family, friends and community".
Mr Bruce thanked the town for "rallying" around Mr Kinsman in his final days and said he would be the first to say he "got his fair share in return" from the town after decades of community service and support for the RSL.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the local RSL organised for the community to drive by Mr Kinsman's home on Anzac Day to honour him for his service.
The following year another procession passed Mr Kinsman's home to mark his 100th birthday after plans to celebrate were cancelled because of a COVID outbreak.
"Those gestures really meant a great deal to Grandpa and will never be forgotten," Mr Bruce said.
Mr Kinsman was laid to rest at the cemetery's war memorial.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, June.
