- In pictures: Armistice Day Commemorations
The refurbished Caversham School Memorial Archway was unveiled in front of about 40 people, who were joined by Carisbrook Primary School pupils.
The upgrade was carried out by the Otago Military History Group, spearheaded by retired staff sergeant Charlie Boyes.
Mr Boyes paid his respects at the archway every Anzac Day and Armistice Day — "I didn’t like to see it in its state," he said.
His great-uncle was killed by an enemy sniper on the Western Front during World War 1.
Mr Boyes was immensely proud of the gates, which he had welded new metal to, and the cast iron wreaths, which each weighed 12.2kg.
"I wanted to do the gates ... in recognition of my forebears."
While working on the fence, he had spoken to the curious pupils about the meaning of the archway.
"It’s important that they know what it’s all about.
"The idea of having an arch ... is because they walk through the memories of those people that gave their lives."
Carisbrook Primary School principal Bruce James said the refurbished archway would give the pupils a link to the war.
"There's a lot of history on those names — [there] are still people who come to our school or who have connections to the school [with those names]."
Armistice Day was also marked with a remembrance ceremony at the Dunedin Cenotaph yesterday morning, where about 150 officials and members of the public gathered.
King’s High School student Josh Crowley, 16, spoke about his Dunedin-born great-grandfather, Bruce Crowley, who received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for escaping from Nazi imprisonment three times during World War 2.
Josh said he appreciated the chance to learn about what his great-grandfather had been through.
"It was good to learn more about what actually happened," he said.
Military historian Chris Pugsley delivered the keynote address.
