A man believed to be a World War II veteran who died alone in a South East Queensland hospital will be farewelled by a crowd of "hundreds" thanks to a gesture from his local RSL sub-branch.

Key points: Ipswich Hospital contacted the city's RSL sub-branch after Brian Fortune died in hospital

Ipswich Hospital contacted the city's RSL sub-branch after Brian Fortune died in hospital The RSL say he was a British-born WWII veteran who had no known family

The RSL say he was a British-born WWII veteran who had no known family The Facebook post garnered so much attention, the funeral venue had to be changed

The Ipswich RSL sub-branch said after risking his life for his country and spending five years as a prisoner of war, Brian Stanley William Fortune, 94, died at Ipswich Hospital on February 11.

"It's just a sad, sad situation," Ipswich RSL sub-branch secretary Debbie Wadwell said.

"He was a British-born World War II veteran and had no known family or next of kin but did have a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) card and talked with nurses about his service.

"We were not made aware he was in hospital, otherwise we could have seen him before he died.

"It's so tragic," she added.

Mr Fortune's military links prompted Ipswich Hospital to reach out to the RSL after his death.

The sub-branch put out a call on social media late Monday asking a few veterans to attend a funeral next week to give Mr Fortune a proper send-off, saying "he died alone but let's all get there to say goodbye".

Ipswich RSL sub-branch secretary Debbie Wadwell said the response had been "overwhelming". ( ABC News: Anna Hartley )

Ms Wadwell said the post was shared more than 1,600 times, with people from as far away as Wagga Wagga, Perth and even Europe getting in touch.

"It's just overwhelming, it's crazy," she said.

"We've had to change the venue because so many people are going.

"People are ringing up crying on the phone.

"We are going to live stream the service on Facebook so people can watch it nationally and from overseas as well.

"Our job is to look after our veterans, whether you're a member of the RSL or not."

RSL desperate for photos, medals

Using details from Mr Fortune's DVA card, the RSL found some archives detailing his military history.

But sub-branch vice-president Michael Blaine said they were looking for photos of him.

"We know he used to reside in Rockhampton and died a few weeks ago," he said.

"He joined the British Army around 1939, he joined the 6th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, which is important to note because in 1940 they were one of the first battalions into France to stop the Germans.

"Brian was wounded in action and then taken a prisoner of war some time just prior to the evacuation of Dunkirk so he spent the rest of the war [around five years] as a prisoner somewhere in Poland.

A carer at Mr Fortune's nursing home says he would have been touched and shocked by the support. ( ABC News: Anna Hartley )

"After that, we have no idea.

"It's like a needle in a haystack."

The RSL said the search for information and photos would continue this week and they would collect Mr Fortune's belongings from Bundaleer Lodge Nursing Home in North Ipswich where he had been living for several months.

"We are just trying to find out whether he had any military medals, so we had put them on his casket," Ms Wadwell said.

Trauma may have led to soldier's move to Australia

Ipswich RSL sub-branch life member Matt Rennie said the RSL had "no idea" how Mr Fortune came to live in Ipswich.

He said many soldiers from overseas who were suffering from PTSD — then known as 'shellshock' — moved to Australia after the war without telling family or friends after the psychological damage caused by war.

"That's probably what this bloke did, especially if he was a prisoner of war," Mr Rennie said.

"I would say his relatives would believe that he died in 1945.

"He probably never made contact with them.

"I had one Polish veteran some years ago do the same, no-one in Poland knew where he was — he didn't want them to know.

"He was a POW and when he got out, he came to Australia as a displaced person and settled in Redbank Plains and had no family."

Ipswich life member Matt Rennie believes Mr Fortune may have moved to Australia without notifying friends or family. ( ABC News: Anna Hartley )

Military personnel, police and public to attend funeral

Mr Blaine said the RSL had been contacted by the Australian Defence Force.

"The military are providing personnel to come to the funeral," he said.

"We've had the Queensland Police Service offer us a piper from their pipe band [and] we have a lady named Elanor who is making paper poppies for the casket.

"The British Service Association in Brisbane have come forward with a Union Jack flag," he said.

"This is the first time we've had a veteran pass away without any family.

"We were trying to get 30 or 40 people to come to the funeral. Now it looks like hundreds will attend."

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said 50 members from RAAF Base Amberley would attend the poppy service.

"When I first saw the post on Facebook, I was moved to see the determination of the Ipswich RSL to remember the life of Brian Fortune," Senator Reynolds said.

"'Lest we forget' is more than a sentiment — it's a commitment to remember them all.

"I am encouraged to see so many Australians rallying together to give this serviceman a send-off that reflects his life of service and sacrifice."

'He would be touched by the support'

Tina Denman, who works at Bundaleer Lodge, said the staff knew Mr Fortune as Stan during the six months he lived there.

"He was a private man, very quiet and very reserved," she said.



Members of the Ipswich sub-branch say finding information on Mr Fortune has been like searching for a needle in a haystack. ( ABC News: Anna Hartley )

"He was very proud and kept himself well dressed.

"We knew he was a returned serviceman but he never discussed it.

"He would be touched by the support, but shocked."

An emotional Ms Denman said it was always sad when residents passed away without family or next of kin.

"Every time we asked him, 'Did you have anybody you wanted us to call?', he'd say there's no-one," she said.

"That's one of the hardest things.

"So I think this is lovely."

Mr Fortune's funeral will be held at on the March 9 at 2:00pm at the Goodna Crematorium on Stuart Street, with attendees asked to wear their military medals.