One of the last 'Rats of Tobruk' has died in Adelaide, aged 101.

Key points: Adelaide veteran Bill Corey has died at the age of 101

Adelaide veteran Bill Corey has died at the age of 101 He was one of the last and oldest World War II 'Rats of Tobruk'

He was one of the last and oldest World War II 'Rats of Tobruk' He was well known for representing veterans at ceremonies

Bill Corey was one of 14,000 Australians who held the Libyan port city of Tobruk against German General Erwin Rommel's forces in 1941.

He was well known for his generosity in speaking at ceremonies and with young people about his experience in World War II.

In 2016, he cut the ribbon to officially open Adelaide's Anzac Centenary Memorial Walk.

"There could not have been a more fitting person to represent the veterans' community at that wonderful occasion," South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said today.

"Bill Corey typified the humble nature and selflessness of our diggers, and was very generous with his time in speaking with members of his community and many schoolchildren about the Anzac legacy.

"We owe Bill and his fellow servicemen and women a great debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they made so that future generations could enjoy the freedom and way of life we have today."

Veterans SA issued a statement and described Mr Corey as an "incredible South Australian".

"The thoughts of the veteran community are with Bill's family, particularly his devoted children Don and Dianne and grandchildren Julia, Michael, Matthew, Keyte and Lee, and many friends at this difficult time," the statement read.

"An unfailingly positive and optimistic gentleman, Bill has inspired thousands of children and adults alike.

"Just three weeks ago Bill made his final school visit to St Michael's College, where his talk and answers to questions held the history students captivated.

"His passion for passing on his life's experiences to the younger generations remain with him until his final days.

"Bill was an incredible South Australian and will be deeply missed."

Mr Corey told the ABC in 2012 his most enduring memory of Tobruk was the ever present dust.

"You ate, slept, drank everything in the dust and if there was a dust storm you still ate and drank your meal in the dust," he recalled.

"Sometimes when you got to the bottom of your cup of tea, it was muddy."

Bill Corey blows out a candle at his 100th birthday last year as SA Governor Hieu Van Le watches on. ( ABC News: Simon Royal )

Mr Corey also saw action in New Guinea and Borneo.

"I've always stated that I didn't have any effects from the war, but of course I did. You don't realise it but it has to have an effect," he said.

"The last few years, all these things come back and I still have a few little cries when I think about it… but you've got to get on with life and be positive."

Looking back on a long life

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Mr Corey grew up in Riverton, north of Adelaide, and enlisted while living in the Adelaide suburb of Gilberton.

"The uniform made us the same. We got on so well," Mr Corey said in 2017.

"Rich or poor, the lesson I learnt from that is everyone has got some good in them, if it's allowed to come out."

He trained at Woodside, in the Adelaide Hills, and then in Palestine before heading to Tobruk in 1941.

In a piece written for the RSL last year, he recalled the huge number of German bombings during the siege.

"Dust or sand storms were another difficulty… it was the same for the enemy as for us," he said.

"On some days there was no movement at all because you couldn't see a thing.

"I remember coming out of my hole to have a wee, walked a couple of yards away then turned around, missed the hole and wandered around for a long time before finding it again (about two hours).

"The water supply improved a bit, but it wasn't ever of good quality, in fact it used to stink when you pulled the cork out of your water bottle."

Mr Corey ended World War II in Borneo before returning to live in Adelaide.

He was president of the 2/43 Battalion AIF Club for five years.

Another Rat of Tobruk, John James Joseph "JJ" Wade, died aged 100 in Perth over the weekend.

He joined the army at age 22 in the remote Goldfields town of Leonora and will be honoured at a service next month.