After the Armistice of 11 November 1918, Remembrance Day began as a day to honour those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice in World War I. Today, Remembrance Day remembers all who have given their lives in service, including in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Personally, you may want to remember an ancestor, relative or friend who has served.

If you don’t have any personal links to people who have served, the Remembrance Day minute of silence is an opportunity to reflect on what war has cost Australia and the world, and the sacrifices many have made to enable us to enjoy life today.

Anyone is welcome to attend a Remembrance Day service.

Remembrance Day services and ceremonies are free, and you don’t need to be an RSL Sub Branch member to attend a service at your local Sub Branch.

We encourage everyone to honour those who have served and sacrificed.

Attending a Remembrance Day service can be a moving experience. Flags will be lowered to half-mast before the service starts and the catafalque party will mount the cenotaph and take their positions.

Typically, the service will start with an Acknowledgement of Country, welcome speech, and words of experience or reflection from a veteran or service member. After this, it’s common that a hymn, prayer or reading is shared before dignitaries and other guests of honour lay wreaths or poppies.

It's customary to recite the Ode, play the Last Post, and observe one minute of silence. The minute’s silence concludes with the playing of the Rouse and a designated spokesperson saying the iconic words, “Lest We Forget”.

Wearing medals on Remembrance Day and other commemorative occasions is encouraged, provided you follow the relevant protocols.

Legally, service medals and other decorations may only be worn by: 

• the person to whom those decorations were awarded  
• a family member of the above, if the above is deceased.  

Full details are available at pmc.gov.au/publications/wearing-awards and rslaustralia.org/rsl-protocols, but here’s a quick summary. 
 

Can I wear replica medals?

There are no implications resulting from wearing replicas of medals to which a person is entitled. Many current and ex-serving Defence members prefer to wear replicas to avoid losing or damaging their originals. 

According to the Department of Defence, the child of a current serving member may wear a set of miniature replica medals of their parent’s for special occasions, such as Remembrance Day. These medals must be worn on the right breast (see below). 
 
Wearing your own medals on Remembrance Day 

• Wear your medals/replicas on the left breast of your clothing.
• You may also wear a deceased relative’s medals/replicas on the right breast (see more below).
• Current serving members should wear their medals in accordance with their service Dress Manual.   

Wearing relatives’ medals on Remembrance Day

• Only one relative of a deceased veteran may wear the veteran’s medals/replicas at any one time. The full set of medals/replicas should be worn.
• It’s considered inappropriate to wear the medals/replicas of more than one deceased relative at one time.
• Wear the medals (or replicas) on the right breast of your clothing.  

Order of wearing medals  
Australian honours and awards must be worn in the correct order of precedence. For more info, please see the Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards.  

You’ll often find Remembrance Day poppies for sale through your local RSL Sub Branch. Funds raised help support Sub Branch activities that benefit local veterans and their families.
You can also buy a virtual poppy through RSL’s Poppy Appeal, which also helps support veterans and their families.