This is a very special time for WWII veterans and their families given it was 75 years ago the war ended.
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For Stewart Thompson, his late father David Thompson, who was a part of the 2/20th Battalion, will always be a hero to him.
This was how David described his experiences of the war before he passed away on July 18, 2011.
"It was American Independence Day July 4, 1944 when we boarded from Singapore for an eventful trip to Japan," David said.
"In Japan, we were moved by train west across Kyushu Island to a town called Omuta.
"Some of our men were detailed to work underground in a coal mine, while I was with a group that worked at a zinc refinery where ingots of zinc were produced.
"Conditions at this workplace were not too bad.
"After a while, American planes came overhead and one night a huge raid using incendiary bombs took place.
"Almost the whole of Omuta was wiped out and just a small portion of our camp.
"After this, we did not go every day to work but one day while at work, an air raid with B29s came over and bombed the refinery and there was heavy machine gunning.
"Fortunately, we had no casualties, but we did not return to work after this and it was only a few days after that we learned that the war was over.
"A few Americans appeared and advised us to remain in the camp until they could manage to collect us.
"Most of us did this, but some pushed off on their own hoping to find a quicker way home but I don't think any really succeeded.
"It was about a fortnight until we were moved from the camp and we left by train to go to Nagasaki to be sent home by sea.
"That was where the second atomic bomb was dropped.
"One of my most lasting memories was of the train trip approaching and going through the remains of the city and onwards to the dock area.
"As we approached, trees and telephone posts began to lean out from the city and buildings were slightly damaged,
"As we got closer to the City, buildings were more damaged and trees either leaning over more or flattened out.
"n or about the city centre there was just nothing except huge piles of rubble and then as we went towards the wharves, trees started to stand up again and some damaged buildings appeared.
"I was put onto an American hospital ship where it was most luxurious, and I was treated very well.
"Some of my associates and I had managed to find a big haul of Japanese money.
"By lucky scrounging, I managed to get hold of two Kimonos.
"I was on the ship for not more than four days when it arrived in Okinawa where I was unloaded onto an American troopship and had about a two day voyage to Manilla.
"We went into a camp and met up with most of the rest of those returning from Japan.
"Each day, some people would be drafted off to go home by plane, never many at a time, but just enough to fill any vacant seats in planes going south.
"I didn't get onto a plane but was drafted with about 1000 men onto a British aircraft carrier HMS Speaker and it was on this that we enjoyed a most pleasant trip back to Australia.
"We landed at Woolloomoo and were taken by bus to Ingleburn camp, ironically where we had started from.
"After a very brief debriefing, we were given uniforms and other things, issued with a new paybook and allowed to draw whatever money we wanted.
"We were given leave for three months and at the end of it, I reported to the Sydney showground and was discharged.
"My army career finished on March 5, 1946."
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