Illustrating the enthusiasm of the community, the Bombala Cenotaph was bedecked with over 3,000 red paper poppies that had been made by volunteers especially to mark the Centenary of Anzac.

It was this glowing display that greeted a record sized gathering to the Dawn Service on the foggy Saturday morning, with around 350 people rugging up to pay their respects.

Sub-Branch President, Rob Letts once again led proceedings, encouraging the crowd to put themselves in the position of the young men who landed on Gallipoli back in 1915.

“I invite each one of you gathered here this morning to quietly reflect,” he said.

“What would I have done if I was there? Would have I made it ashore? How were my mates? After all the training at home and then in Egypt, now we are here.

“In 1915 our soldiers understood the phrase “For God, For King and Country”. That is why, 100 years ago, so many volunteered to serve and go in harm’s way.”

Mr Letts took us through the preparation of our troops, outlining how Australia managed to dispatch so many ships, and giving statistics that illustrate a remarkable response from our nation.

The prologue included words on the landing itself, of individual battles such as that of Lone Pine, and the horrendous conditions that our brave soldiers endured.

Mr Letts also spoke of the heart wrenching withdrawal following the loss of so many precious lives, and of the dead mates that had to be left behind.

“Perhaps the feeling is best described by the comment from one Anzac to General Birdwood,” Mr Letts said.

“On the final day, while pointing to a cemetery he said, “I hope they won’t hear us marching down to the beach”. Among those dead were three soldiers from Bombala.”

The moving ceremony of course gave mention to those who are still serving on our behalf, and the traditional prayers from Rev Judy Holdsworth, a two minute silence, the sounding of the Last Post, and The Ode all rang out across the early morning.

As the National Anthem concluded proceedings, the crowd moved onto the Bombala RSL Club to reflect in a more casual setting and share in a hot breakfast, this time for well over 200 people.

It was from the club that the Anzac Day March departed later in the day, with local veterans being accompanied by a larger number of family members, organisation representatives and school students proudly marching down the main street in this centenary year.

They marched to the sound of bagpipes and drums and were met by applause from a record crowd of around 600 gathered at the Cenotaph, with the Catafalque Party already in place as the visiting Air Force and Navy contingents took their positions.

Mr Letts welcomed special guests and the wider gathering, inviting Fr Mick Mac Andrew to bless the Commemoration, before the traditional Laying of the Wreaths commenced.

Here community groups and individuals presented floral tributes to be placed at the foot of the Cenotaph as a symbol of their thoughts and prayers for those who served, with more wreaths being laid than has been seen in many years.

Mr Letts then returned to reflections on Gallipoli, this time speaking of the backgrounds of the men of the 9th Infantry Battalion in order to draw a picture of the universality of our troops who fought at Gallipoli.

Mr Letts’s prologue continued to include not only the Aussies and Kiwis who created the Anzac legend, but also to recognise those who serve in the defence forces today, continuing in that proud spirit.

“In their reflective moments, perhaps before expected combat, soldiers write home to loved ones,” Mr Letts said.

“Let me read part of a letter sent by an Australian soldier to his mother. “You never need to think of this letter as a goodbye letter, simply one of my expressions of thanks and love for you, my mum.”

“These words were written almost 100 years after Gallipoli by one of our soldiers. A member of our SAS serving in Afghanistan. They could have been written by an Anzac.”

These words were followed by the hymns of the ceremony and the Prayer of Thanksgiving offered by Chief Petty Officer Maurice Anlezark, with the Prayer for the Queen offered by Sub Branch Vice President, Roger Moulds and the Prayer for the Nation by Wing Commander Rocky Johnstone.

Student President of the Bombala High School, Lachlan Sellers then gave the Commemorative Address, also speaking of Gallipoli and the spirit it forged.

“Throughout the First World War and Gallipoli especially, there are many reports of brothers fighting and dying together. For me this is the closest context to my family life. My brothers and I are 22, 19 and 17, which means it would be possible for us to enlist together,” Lachlan said.

“Brothers who enlisted together generally fought side by side. At Gallipoli, sets of three brothers were rare, but their stories still make me cringe. Being told that one of my brothers had died or had even been wounded would mortify me.

“An extract from Wyn Griffith’s ‘From Up to Mametz’, talks about an Australian soldier who sent a message to stop a barrage, his brother was a runner and was killed by shell fire. “So I had sent him to his death, bearing a message from my own hand, in an endeavour to save other men's brothers…I had not even buried him, nor was his grave ever found.”

“Coping with this news would have stalled my courage and bravery to back up my mates,” Lachlan said. “But those Anzac soldiers showed endurance and spirit that we honour and remember today.” (An excerpt of Lachlan’s speech will be included in next week’s Bombala Times).

This touching address led the ceremony towards its conclusion, with Fr Mick making the Commemoration of the Fallen, which was followed by the two minute silence, the sounding of the Last Post and Reveille, and The Ode, which was recited by the Sub-Branch’s John Martin.

The National Anthem closed the morning, with all adding their voices to those of the Rotary and Community Choir, and then standing proud as the New Zealand anthem was played to honour the neighbours we fought alongside, and who would also be honouring the centenary year.

For more photographs, please see our online gallery at http://www.bombalatimes.com.au/story/3036201/anzac-centenary-honoured-in-bombala/?cs=533