Hundreds piled in to pay their respects to those who have served and are serving at the official memorial service.

Led by Tamworth RSL sub-branch president Jane McCarthy, the service was well attended with Tamworth Regional Council acting mayor Phil Betts and Member for New England Barnaby Joyce sat in the front row.

A special address was given by Royal Australian Navy Commander Bruce Willington before the solemn laying of the wreaths.

"To embody the spirit of the Anzac and show their respects to those who gave their lives in the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms, well done Tamworth," Mr Willington said.

"This town certainly has a special place in my heart with my family having spent 40 years here."

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One of Mr Willington's fonder memories were when he called in to do some shopping on his way home in Tamworth one day in his summer uniform.

"As I came up the escalator into the food court there, it went silent," he said.

"Everyone turned around and looked at me, I went to Woolworths and every aisle I stepped into I got the same reaction, people stopped what they were doing.

"At that point I realised that seeing a sailor up in Tamworth is quite unusual."

After Mr Willington's address, members of the community and school children came up one by one to lay a wreath and pay their respects to Australia's fallen soldiers.

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