Ill-health is forcing the sale of a retreat for war veterans but the owner is vowing to accommodate returned soldiers elsewhere if potential buyers do not wish to continue with the altruistic enterprise.

Retired Warrant Officer Class One John, who did not want his last name disclosed, was a sniper during his 17 years of military service and hopes The Unknown Soldier, a sprawling farm stay retreat at the bottom of the Yorke Peninsula, will remain open to war veterans long term.

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If not, the ex-serviceman said he would establish a similar set-up, albeit on a smaller scale and closer to medical facilities, elsewhere, determined to keep his promise to fellow soldiers who never made it home.

“On the last tour I did, I made a pact with my mates there that, if one of us survives, we had to do something for the families (of the other soldiers),’’ John said.

“But I’m 63. I have heart problems and I’ve had a stroke. (After leaving the military) I spent more than a year in recovery with radiation poisoning and cancer and I’ve got a lot of metal and chemical in me from all the stuff we were exposed to.

“I would love to stay here until I die but I need to be closer to hospital.

“If someone else is not going to run this then I will get a smaller place closer to the city and set it up exactly like this.

“I will do that just for (my fellow soldiers) because that’s a promise made in blood.’’

The Foul Bay property has served as veterans retreat for a number of years.

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It’s been listed for sale with price hopes of $1.75m to $2m.

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The property comes with a long list of inclusion, including a gym.

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The main entrance of the retreat.

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John’s distinguished career saw him serve in, Iraq, Afghanistan, India and Russia.

He was also stationed at the American base in Crete for a period of time, where he was issued with the Greek military uniform.

Due to his Greek heritage, John is often seen wearing this uniform for commemorative occasions, including Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.

“The last tour I did, when I lost all my mates, was about nine years ago. But, as far as I know, you never leave (the military),’’ John said.

“It (the memories) is still with me and I think it’s going to be with me for a long time.”

John and his wife Lisa bought the Foul Bay property, which is about a three-hour drive from Adelaide and 40 minutes from the nearest health services at Yorketown, seven years ago.

WO1 John standing at salute in front of the property’s private memorial display.

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One of the rooms that’s available to guests.

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The main residence which features three bedrooms.

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The retreat sits on a large 43ha parcels of land.

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They allow free camping for veterans and their families, who can roam the 43 hectares of mostly bushland, tend to a menagerie of farm animals, pick fruit and vegetables from the extensive orchard and garden beds, work out in the gym or venture to the nearby coastline to fish.

Two-bedroom guest accommodation is available for those without a tent or caravan, while the couple also live onsite, in a superb three-bedroom sandstone home.

“You can keep busy here, if you need to,’’ John said.

“You can go for a walk and by the time you get back it’s lunchtime, then by the time you get the eggs and go and check the water troughs it’s dinner time.

“When you stay busy, you don’t think about the hardships you have had as a military person.

“But it’s also very secluded. You don’t see any other buildings, it’s just nature and sometimes that’s what you need to capture your thoughts.’’

The property is listed with Urban and Rural Partners, with a price guide of $1.75 million to $2 million.

– By Lauren Ahwan