Wreaths were laid and touching words of those who fought, and those died were spoken.

St Edmund’s College Canberra student Bertram O’Brien singled out one man who fought at Gallipoli. He said just over 100 years ago, the same man would have stood on the streets of Queanbeyan, where he grew up.

“20,000 Australians landed on that beach … in a mess of people, mud, bullets and blood,” he said.

“One of those Australians was called Harry Bale. Let me tell you about Private Bale, of the Eighth Battalion, second infantry brigade.

“He was 24 and two months old when he enlisted. He stood five foot eight, with brown hair and blue eyes. On May 5, 1914 he read an oath. ‘I, Harry Bale swear that I will well and truly serve our sovereign lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force’.”

“He did indeed faithfully serve his country. This young Australian man made his nation proud by fighting in Gallipoli, but in reading this oath he was signing his own death sentence.

“On August 27, 1915 Harry Bale was shot and killed on the battlefield of the Gallipoli peninsula.”

Mr O’Brien said the message was that every citizen was capable of “incredible amounts of bravery and courage”.

“That is something that every Australian should value.”

Administrator Tim Overall paid tribute not only to those who fought at Gallipoli but for the men and women who were involved in battles over the past more than 100 years.

“So many have given their lives for us, for our freedom and in the hope of a better world. We will remember them,” Mr Overall said.