PICTURES: Australian and New Zealand servicemen honoured at Anzac Day event in Wick

Australian and New Zealand servicemen whose last resting place was Wick have been honoured at a ceremony marking Anzac Day.

The annual event took place on Monday morning at the town's war graves, where a dozen Australians and New Zealanders who died in World War II are buried.

It was organised by the Wick, Canisbay and Latheron branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland (RBLS) and a two-minute silence was observed.

Anzac Day is held on April 25 each year. It began as a way of commemorating members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) who served at Gallipoli in 1915 during World War I.

Piper Alasdair Miller, of Wick RBLS Pipe Band, played the lament Flowers of the Forest and Leslie O'Neill, locum minister at Wick St Fergus Church, gave a reading before Willie Watt, Vice-Lieutenant of Caithness, laid a poppy wreath.

Bugler Keith Snowdon, of Scotscalder, played the Last Post and the Rouse.

Branch president Beverley McPhee placed flags on the war graves of Australian servicemen, while branch member Tommy Munro did likewise on New Zealanders' graves.

A short service also took place at the grave of General Sir Henry Horne of Stirkoke, at the far corner of the cemetery, where Mr Watt laid another wreath.

Legion members Denny Swanson and Tommy Munro put up an Australian flag behind the Wick war memorial in the town centre and positioned some of Denny's hand-made soldier silhouettes nearby.

Branch chairman Alex Paterson said later that members felt it was important to maintain the Anzac Day tradition. He explained that General Lord Horne was instrumental in the success of the Gallipoli evacuation.

Mr Paterson added that the Wick, Canisbay and Latheron branch of the RBLS would welcome new members.

“We're always looking for younger people because we are all getting older," he said. “We'd be delighted to see them. They can always get in touch with me.”

Mr Paterson can be contacted on 07708 779602.

The branch organises a number of parades and services throughout the year to mark important military anniversaries.

Last year, its Remembrance Sunday collection amounted to more than £15,700. All the money goes to PoppyScotland.

“The Poppy Appeal has gone up every year," Mr Paterson said. "That was a big rise.

"We were very fortunate that we could use Tesco – they were very good to us.”

The branch has the long-term aim of restoring the Soldiers' Tower monument at the North Head and funding is being sought.

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