The story of James Lawrence Hawton was raised with the Kiewa RSL's Damian Ley four years ago, during a ceremony for veteran James Duff at the Mitta Cemetery.

"I was made aware there was a James Hawton lying in an unmarked grave there, and he was a local Mitta resident," he said.

"We made some enquiries and found out that John Murphy had approached the Tallangatta RSL sub-branch about the same subject.

"Tallangatta had closed down and we inherited members from Tallangatta, so we took it on.

"I contacted the RSL Victorian state branch to see what could be done, and was advised very little could be done because his death couldn't be attributed to his war service."

Private Hawton had died suddenly at just 65 years of age from unknown health complications.

The Mitta-born labourer, who volunteered at age 38 for military service in 1941 and served in the Middle East and New Guinea, returned to the valley after his discharge from the Army in 1944.

Mr Ley said he became well-known, having worked for the Scales family, and it was clear through stories told about Private Hawton he was a "character" with an alcohol problem.

"He was what every little country town needs ... you can sit down for hours and listen to stories told about him," he said.

"He was virtually a hermit, he lived on the Mitta River ... and he would spend his weekend at the Mitta pub."

The initial application to the Department of Veterans Affairs was rejected.

But Mr Ley said a determined David Martin, who had investigated similar cases for the Rutherglen sub-branch, would not accept the rejection and found records noting his alcohol use and a diagnosis of spondylosis.

"He wrote again ... we got notification his death had been accepted as a result of war service and was entitled to a war grave," he said.

"The grave was done earlier this year.

"He lay in an unmarked grave for 50 years ... he had no family, being a private person.

"He has been too young for World War I but grown up during it and experienced the austerity after.

"You don't know how many there are of similar ilk."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Mr Ley said a niece in Melbourne would not be able to attend a dedication service on Sunday, but had expressed her gratitude.

He encouraged the general public to attend the ceremony at 11am at the Mitta Cemetery, as a way to pay tribute.

"He's one of the ordinary people who served his country, who are still remembered," he said.