The unknown soldier was referenced by guest speaker Wing Commander Linda Corbould at the Launceston Remembrance Day service.

“One hundred years ago, on the 11^th of November 1918, the guns on the Western front fell silent after four year’s of continuous warfare,” she said. 

Following the war, a movement was made to get all soldiers a grave – even if it was unmarked.

“We do not  know this Australian’s name and we never will. We do not know his rank or his battalion or where he was born nor precisely how or when he died, and we do not know where in Australia he had made his home or when he left it for the battle fields,” Commander Corbould said. 

“We do not know who loved him or if he was loved. Or if he had children we do not know who they are. His family is lost to us as he was to them.

“We will never know who this Australian was. Yet he has always been among those we’ve honoured.”

Launceston RSL Sub Branch president Graeme Barnett said he was “really happy” with how the city’s service went. 

“The numbers were fantastic. I didn’t expect so many people to come. I reckon there were three times the amount of people there than I expected. It was probably about 600,” he said. 

The bugler, David Hardstaff from the Derwent Valley Concert Band, got the call up at the 11^th hour, and Mr Barnett said he was brilliant. 

“He got in touch with us on Friday because we didn’t have one and he drove up from Hobart and was fantastic. He’s got 30 years experience,” Mr Barnett said.  

“It’s just the Australian way, it’s fantastic and makes you feel like it’s all worth it.” 

After the ceremony, people returned to the RSL Club where many people saw the renovated museum area for the first time. 

“People are now walking in the door and are going ‘wow’,” Mr Barnett said. 

“A lot of the memorabilia was stuck in boxes before so it’s great to have it out now.”