Lance Corporal Joe Madeley’s closest associates have described him as an honest, gentle man who held his family and friends in the highest regard. 

Stewart Crutchett, whose father was a very close friend of the late war veteran, remembered Mr Madeley as a fun-filled man who had a very colourful history. 

“He was from a very large family on a farm at Weethalle working as a rabbit trapper, where his father tried to stop him going off to war,” he said. 

“No, no, the war’ll be over by Christmas anyhow,” Mr Madeley’s father said trying to sway him. 

But the Riverina veteran chased his dreams and became one of the renowned troops to stop Germany's Afrika Korps in their tracks as they swept across North Africa during World War II.

"In the battlefield at Tobruk, one of Joe's mates was wounded and the nearby tank wouldn't pull up to save him so Joe climbed the tank and pulled out a grenade and said he would drop it if the driver didn’t stop,” Mr Crutchett said. 

He acknowledged that while the Riverina native was a brave, adventurous man, he also had an undeniable soft side.

“He was a great man who cared deeply about his family, and he was much loved by all those who knew him,” Mr Crutchett said. 

Meanwhile Shaw Brian, another close friend of the soldier, said Joe’s accident occurred after he and his brother had an outstanding day at the Weethalle Show. 

“As usual they had a great and memorable day at the show remembering their father Ebenezer, who brought them there onto a property out of town,” he said.  “Sadly on the way home Joe was taken from us all.”

Club Five Dock RSL in Sydney, which had a close relationship with Mr Madeley, released a statement on his tragic passing. 

“We would like to thank Joe for his dedication and service to our country and veteran community throughout his life.”

Mr Madeley was a much respected former student of Yanco Agriculgural High School