Royal Marines Association Queensland (RMAQ) had set up an online fund raising for Nathaniel Beesley’s family, its president Cleve Whitworth, said in a report.

“We see ourselves as a family, and any loss within the family is felt right throughout the corps,” he said.

“We hope to raise funds to show our support to his young family and help in some small way through this terribly sad time.”

Nathaniel Beesley’s former colleagues also paid him tribute after his tragic death last Friday, March 17, 2017, while working at Grange Resource’s Savage River.

ABC News reports Lee West, a former Royal Marine Sergeant and colleague of Mr. Beesley, said his friend had an “unfaltering attitude” and recalled the day he was by Bees, as he was informally called, had decided to leave the military.

“I vividly remember the pact we made on the train to the Royal Marines training camp … quitting was never an option for this man … not then, not on 40 Commando’s tour from hell in Afghanistan and not when he moved to Australia last year to provide a better life for his beautiful family,” Mr. West posted on Facebook.

“Unfortunately, it was his unfaltering attitude that took him from us while working in the dangerous mines out there.

“I remember him ringing me in sorrow to tell me he was leaving the Marines, such was our plan from the early days to run a company together one day … thinking he had let me down and explaining his desire to get the best life for Katie and the boys.”

“As a Marine he was effortlessly brilliant, totally suited. As a Sergeant he loved his lads,” he said.

“He was a warrior, and I knew that from the early days in our training in 2003 … especially when we would mop the floor at 6:00am in our pants listening to Phil Collins.”

“I’ve never had a crossed word with him and never heard a person say a bad word about him.

“I’m devastated that Katie and the boys have lost their hero, beyond words. Bees, you handsome, beautiful, legend … I will see you in Valhalla. Stand easy, 851. xxxx.”

Former mate Marine Ryan Jones said Beesley was “one of the best blokes I knew”.

“Gutted isn’t the word that such a great man has been taken from us all. My thoughts and prayers are with Katie and their wonderful family at this time,” Mr Jones wrote.

Other former colleagues and friends wrote of their friend as well as their tribute to their mate Bees.

Beesley a former British Royal Marine was Veteran of two tours of Afghanistan as a commando, he moved to Australia with his wife Katie and two sons in 2016.

Nathaniel Beesley served two tours at Afghanistan (photo supplied by Aziah Beesley Facebook)

Kara Poletti said the couple were full of “life and adventure” and had already become part of the Sunshine Coast community; Poletti was a family friend of the Beesleys.

“They came to live here as he really wanted to create a better life for his little family and his children to grow up,” she said.

Beesley moved to Australia to start a new life for his family.

He had been awaiting an interview with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and had momentarily taken a job at Tasmania’s Grange Resource’s Savage River mine.

His widow Katie Beesley criticized the ADF over its delay in the interview process, accusing them of “dangling a carrot” of employment.

“His dream to serve Australia and yet doing nothing, why were assurances being made … I want answers from those who run the recruitment process,” Ms Beasley posted the Defence Jobs Australia’s Facebook page. Mrs. Beesley said the process took too long and is now calling for answers.

“Nathan took the job in the mine to get us through financially until the interview. But now we have lost everything,” Ms. Beesley told the ABC in a statement.

“We are not permanent residents and are faced with the potential of being forced out of the country now I have no-one to provide for us. We are grief-stricken.”

In a Facebook post on Defence Jobs Australia, Mrs Beesley said her husband was selected for interview in July 2016.

“You still haven’t explained why every email since July last year we were told he had already been selected for an interview and it would happen “next month” … and then again “next month” … and again “next month” for nine months,” it read.

“I want answers from those who run the recruitment process. Because at some point in the future I need to explain to my [four-year-old] and [1-year-old] why he was treated so badly.”

On the other hand, the ADF said it was “inappropriate to comment on a specific case” in a statement.

Mr Beesley fell while performing scaling operations on a wall in the mine’s north pit.

Officers from Tasmania’s WorkSafe authority have returned to the mine to continue their investigations.

Australian Workers Union assistant secretary Robert Flanagan said scaling was a dangerous operation.

“It’s a hazardous occupation and obviously this tragedy reinforces the very serious hazard associated with that work,” he said.

“The tragedy has been very unsettling for the workforce and the company have put in place measures to assist those employees including counseling, and employees being released from work.”

Grange has resumed trading after being placed on an immediate halt on Friday, and mining has resumed in the south pit.

It was the fourth mining death on the state’s west coast since 2013.

The fundraising page has raised almost $15,000.[i]

[i]  References: ABC News, GoldCoastBulletin, SunshineCoastDaily;