Carrying his faithful Canon Demi Rapid, the ­20-year-old captured images that evoke the raw emotion of the war and the awe of a country boy abroad.

“When I was a young kid in Hinton I was always taking photos,” Mr Lantry said.

“I carried [my camera] with me all the time and that included Vietnam.”

The images, compiled for an exhibition in Morpeth, feature the people he served with, the lush scenery and Vietnamese people.

Mr Lantry was a National Serviceman and he was injured only a few weeks prior the draft.

The keen rugby league player had seen his doctor for fluid on his knee a few weeks before he was shipped out and was offered a medical certificate to avoid service, but Mr Lantry turned it down.

“I said to the doctor, ‘don’t rule me out’,” Mr Lantry said. “I would do it again.”

As part of the Australian Reinforcement Unit and then later in the Defence and Employment Platoon, he served under Lieutenant Peter Cosgrove – now Australia’s Governor-General.

Mr Lantry completed the required two years ­service in 1970 and proudly took part in Anzac Day commemorations on Friday.

“The camaraderie you get, you can’t find anywhere else,” he said.

His photos are part of a free exhibition at The Photographer – Studio and Gallery at 161 Swan Street, Morpeth, that will resume on April 30 and end on May 4.  The images were taken while on patrol, in battle, and in periods of rest.