Lloyd Harding, who died on Tuesday night, is being remembered as a true gentleman who fought hard after World War II to make sure the legend and legacy of the battalion was not forgotten.

He was just two months shy of his 100th birthday.

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The 2/40th Battalion was almost entirely made up of Tasmanian members and were famously taken as prisoners of war in 1942.

The prisoners spent their days toiling under slave labour before they were returned to Australia in 1945.

Of its 919 soldiers, 271 men from the battalion died during action or in captivity.

Mr Harding's grandson Dallas said his grandfather's war service almost never was when he was knocked back by the forces due to holding an essential job.

His entry was granted upon re-application when he listed florist as his occupation.

Mr Harding said his grandfather did not talk about the atrocities of his time as a POW until much later in his life.

"Pop never wanted any special thanks or gratitude, but he wanted people to know the history of what they went through," he said.

"It was a very brutal and ghastly ordeal.

"But to get through it, they used mateship and encouragement."

Mr Harding described his grandfather as a proud and courageous man who was chivalrous and respectful.

He said even in his latter years, his grandfather would wear a suit jacket and his shirt tucked into his trousers around the nursing home where he lived.

Andrew Price, whose grandfather was a member of the 2/40th, said he hoped the story of the battalion would not be lost.

"One thing Lloyd used to say was 'never forget the men of the 2/40th," he said.

"He will be remembered as a true gentleman."

Rod Stone, of Friends of the 2/40th Battalion, said Mr Harding had lived an extraordinary life.

"Like many, he felt great dismay and much remorse for the men who died in atrocious conditions as POWs, but were buried overseas with no family to recognise them or visit their remains," he said.