Memories of those who died serving

Wakatipu veterans and RSA members (second row, from left) Les Brough, Joe Guise, Taylor Reed, (front row, from left) Arrowtown RSA president Rupert Iles, Queenstown RSA president David Geddes, Leo Ward, Jack Reid, Frank Lindsay, Max McDermid and John Mincher, with Michael Eden (seated) and parade marshall Don Spary, stand to attention a moment before observing two minutes' silence on Memorial Hill in Arrowtown yesterday. Photo by James Beech.

In Arrowtown, more than 40 people attended a service on Memorial Hill.

Heads were bowed for two minutes' silence at 11am, in memory of those who died serving their country in World War 1.

Arrowtown RSA president Rupert Iles and Queenstown RSA president David Geddes laid wreaths.

Mr Iles said numbers were slightly up on last year's service.

"It was a very good turnout, and a very moving ceremony," he said.

In Wanaka, about 30 people gathered at the resort's War Memorial cenotaph lookout.

RSA service co-ordinator Ralph Fegan said the group, comprising mainly widows, returned service association veterans and their spouses, along with some overseas visitors, had laid poppies at the steps of the cenotaph.

A group of 22 war veterans were then taken to the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum at Wanaka Airport for lunch.

North Otago RSA president John Longman said about 30 people attended a service at the Garden of Memories in Oamaru, where two minutes' silence followed the firing of blanks from a 25-pounder field gun.