Sixty-five years on, the three years of service he gave as a part of the British Commonwealth Occupational Forces (BCOF) (Japan) was remembered alongside other veterans during a special ceremony in Junee.

He arrived as a part of the third wave of Australia forces to enter Japan after the dropping of the atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Dealing first-hand with the harsh reality of what the American bombs did, the Australian forces took control of the Hiroshima prefecture from American troops some months after the bombings, which effectively killed thousands.

Working in the canteens, rationing cigarettes and spirits, Mr Bentley was just one of hundreds of Australians who devoted their time to render safe, dispose and destroy huge stock piles of war material including chemical agents, weapons and ammunition.

While at the time it seemed exciting to sail off to a land unknown, the reality before them is hard to imagine.

“It was pretty adventurous ... to see the people with atomic bomb burns were unreal,” he said.

Last week around 40 veterans, all with their own stories to tell of their time in Japan, gathered at the Junee cenotaph to mark the 65th anniversary of Australian forces entering Japan to take control of the Hiroshima prefecture.

In a solemn and moving tribute to BCOF (Japan) around 100 people gathered at the Junee cenotaph to pay their respects to the men who served and to acknowledge their service.

Members of the the Vietnam Veteran’s Association South West Slopes, Junee Shire Council, the BCOF Association and Junee North Public School laid memorial wreaths at the base of the cenotaph.

As the The Last Post and Reveille were played and the Ode of Remembrance was read, heads were bowed in private reflection. Following the service the crowd gathered at the Junee Ex-Services Memorial Club for a luncheon where BCOF Association president Jack Oborne presented a cheque for $500 to Shane Logan of the Junee Brass Band for their support and help to the BCOF (Japan) marches over the years.

The night before the march Vietnam Veteran’s Association South West Slopes president John Curtis, who has been the local organiser for the BCOF (Japan) march every year, was presented with honourary membership to the BCOF Association, which was well due according to association secretary Jim Patterson.

“The main reason is the co-operation and the help he has given us on every occasion ... he’s been absolutely fabulous,” Mr Patterson said.