Passionate servicemen and women huddled together at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery to ring in the 18th annual parade, which pays homage to the sacrifice made by reserve members in all of Australia’s current and former conflicts.

This year’s theme coincided with the centenary of the beginning of World War I  and remembers soldiers of that conflict.

Annual Reserve Forces Day was celebrated on July 1.

Reserve Forces Day Council spokesman Peter Bignold, a former servicemen, said the day is special to him because of his family’s involvement in WWI and WWII.

‘‘We are thanking not only servicemen and women, but their families and their employers for all their support,’’ he said.

‘‘Without the reserves there would not be a military.’’

Inveresk’s iconic tramway was also used in a recreation of army reserves boarding the tram for Mona Vale during WWI.

Despite the rain, Mr Bignold and his fellow veterans were upbeat.

‘‘It can be hard having this event in Tassie in July because it’s always raining. But we get a lot of support from a lot of senior people in Australia.’’