Dennis went to join the regular British Army in his home country of England in September 1951 at the tender age of 16.

However, Dennis's birthday wasn't until June - meaning he was still too young to join, given that the cut off age was 16 years and six months.

"So I said my birthday was in March," Dennis explained.

The plan was for Dennis to serve alongside one of his friends.

"I joined with the intention of going with my mate," Dennis said.

However, they were quickly split and Dennis wouldn't see his mate again until after his involvement in the war.

Dennis was sent to the Royal Artillery serving as a forward observer, a role which required him to get within visual range of enemy forces to call in artillery.

In Dennis's own words, it was "a very important job", especially for a 16-year-old to be tasked with.

It was also dangerous but that was a fact that was withheld from a young Dennis.

"The expectancy of life was very short, but they didn't tell us that, we had to find out the hard way."

He went to Korea in September 1952 with his young age hardly making him unique.

"I wasn't the lone soldier," Dennis said, explaining how it was commonplace for soldiers under the age of 18 to serve in combat zones.

For Dennis and many other young Englishmen, it was their first time outside of Britain.

"At the time you're thinking, 'where the bloody hell is Korea?'" Dennis said of the initial excitement of travelling to a new country.

"It was a very exciting adventure, you don't realise how bloody sickening it is."

In March 1953 Dennis received a commendation for bravery for his part in evacuating a South Korean school, after North Korean forces indiscriminately targeted it with mortar fire.

"We went in there and grabbed the kids and got them out," Dennis said.

"Anybody would have done it."

Dennis returned to England in July 1953, and continued working for the army on the Regular Commissions Board until 1955.

He came to Australia in 1971 before becoming an Australian citizen in 1985.

During his time in Australia he became involved with various returned services organisations, including the Chester Hill RSL and later the Taree RSL Sub-branch, where he served as secretary.

His involvement with these organisations has helped him push for greater recognition of Korean War veterans.

"World War I, WWII, the Vietnam War are always mentioned - Korea is always forgotten about," he said.

"It does not get the recognition it deserves."

lachlan.leeming@fairfaxmedia.com.au