Dawn service at the Launceston Cenotaph on Saturday saw more than 10,000 members of the community come together to commemorate the emotional occasion.

One hundred years to the day since troops landed at Gallipoli, veterans, families and Launceston locals paid their respects to the thousands of fallen soldiers.

It had been five years since Greg Brydon left the Royal Australian Air Force but he said he would never forget the time he spent there.

‘‘Having seen active service, I have a lot of memories of conflict myself,’’ Mr Brydon said.

‘‘I was a bomb disposal technician, so I saw a lot of difficult things, and Anzac Day brings a lot of emotions back to me.

‘‘Yes, it’s a 100 years celebration but there have been a lot of events just recently, and we’re doing this because it is so important to us.’’

He  was happy to see so many younger members of the community  show an interest in   this darker side of Australia’s history.

The service’s guest speaker, Launceston Church Grammar year 12 student Harry Fawcett, 17, said the soldiers of the First World War fought with selflessness, endurance and an unyielding sense of purpose.

‘‘The sacrifice these people and their families made so that we may live in peace in our own land is beyond difficult to comprehend,’’ Harry said.

‘‘How chilling and frightening it is to think of people my age facing such adversity and tribulation.

‘‘Part of my task as a young Australian is to reflect, honour and respect the sacrifices that have been made to earn our country’s respected place in this changing world.’’