Because Indigenous Australians were not allowed to join the army, he said he was Maori. That's how much he wanted to fight for his country.

However, despite winning an award in France for his bravery, CPL Prentice died alone and lay in an unmarked grave for over 60 years.

That grave was finally marked in an emotional ceremony at the Katherine Cemetary on Wednesday, thanks especially to the work of three individuals.

When Aboriginal elders Aunty Juanita Heparia and Aunty Ellen Gough of the Katherine Stolen Generations Group found out an Aboriginal soldier was buried in their local ceremony in an unmarked grave, they made it their mission for seven years to have him recognised.

"We knew that somebody else was looking for this man only through (Country singer) Neil Camm," Aunty Gough said.

"He came into our office one day, while we were having a meeting and said, 'Have you heard of this particular man?' and we said no.

"'Well, he could be buried around here somewhere in Katherine. Would you like to take it on? and we said 'well yeah, that's what we do, we help people.'"

"We just kept pushing for it from there, or getting in touch with the army so we could get a headstone put over there because we were told that it could never happen.

"And we said no, it's going to happen. Because he deserved it."

The Aunties said they she felt a real connection with CPL Prentice after such a long journey with him.

"We are so proud. Look, he's recognised now," Aunty Heparia said.

"We're just glad that now he's resting in peace."

She said she wants to continue her work to recognise both Indigenous and non-Indigenous soldiers.

"We need to be supportive of all our returning soldiers," she said.

"When they come back and they need someone we will be there for them because we're Australian and we're proud to be Australian."