"Forgotten force" meets in Junee

There are between 1700 and 2000 veterans of the British Combined Occupation Forces (BCOF) left and last week they held the first of two reunions for 2014 in Junee.

During an address to BCOF members, Junee RSL sub-branch secretary John Curtis said the Australian’s didn’t have it easy.

The occupation force’s duties included guarding prisoners and identifying, collecting and disposing of Japanese armaments.

Destroying the weapons was one of the most dangerous aspects and claimed lives.

Despite being involved in what are described as “war-like operations”, many of the veterans have not received recognition for their service.

“They were not a peacekeeping force but an occupation force of a recently defeated enemy ... whose citizens’ reaction was unpredictable at times,” Mr Curtis said.

National BCOF president Jack Oborne said it was the fifth reunion held in Junee, with other events held at Tumut and Corowa.

“We usually pick different venues ... (Junee’s a) good area for people to get there,” he said.

“A lot of BCOF veterans can’t drive anymore and you’ve got to take that into account.”

Mr Oborne said it had been 66 years since the BCOF served in Japan and it was still waiting for the recognition of service from the government and legal action had started.

“I’ve always said we will get recognition in 10 years time and we’ll all be dead ... hopefully that’s not the case.”