For the first time in 43 years, Cec Shilling did not march on Anzac Day this year.

The World War II veteran passed away in 2016, aged 99, and his son, Glen, who had been by his father’s side during four decades of Anzac Days, spent one last April 25 in Kangaroo Flat on Tuesday.

Also at the service was Glen’s son-in-law, Michael Burnett, himself a veteran of three tours of Afghanistan, who marched in Cec’s adopted home town in his honour.

“Dad was very proud of Michael’s achievements, as we all were, so it was special today,” Glen said.

“My dad saw Michael in uniform many times and was particularly taken by the fact. He'd have been very proud that Michael was involved.”

It was also a special day for Mr Burnett, who travelled from Sunbury to march in Cec’s honour, and whose own military background allowed him to form a close connection with his wife’s grandfather.

“It’s the only thing he’d ever remember of me,” he said.

“Every time I saw him he’d be so honoured, [and say] ‘Thanks for coming to see me’ – very firm handshakes.

“He was always chuffed that he outranked me, he was very happy about that, that he always outranked me, so even when I got promoted above him I never mentioned it.”

Mr Burnett said marching in Kangaroo Flat was a tribute to both the man who gave up four years of his life to serve his county in New Guinea and the family that supported him on his return.

“It’s really showing respect to what Cec did, remembering him, and then showing respect to my father-in-law as well to say thank you for supporting him for so long,” he said.

“That’s always the trouble with veterans, no one ever really sees those scars afterwards and that’s something that Glen and the rest of his brothers really nursed Cec through.

“Veterans go to war but it’s the families back home that have to deal with it later on so it’s really saying thank you to Glen as well and the family for supporting a serving veteran.”

Mr Burnett said he was proud to be able to represent Cec one last time in the suburb he had called home for the last quarter of his long life.

“We usually march at our local one in Sunbury but today was such a special day because Glen marched for so many years with his father and the family’s always been very close with Cec, including my kids now,” he said.