There were sirens and gun fire in Alexandra on Sunday morning, but all was at peace downtown, where a small crowd gathered for Remembrance Day.

Alexandra-Clyde and Cromwell Returned and Services Associations’ (RSA) both commemorated the ending of World War 1 (WW1) with Remembrance and Armistice Day services.

The first World War ended on November 11, 1918 with the signing of an armistice between Germany and the Allies.

Alexandra-Clyde RSA held a service on Sunday to give more people a chance to come along.

Christine Wright plays ‘The Last Post’ while Alexandra RSA past-president Gerry Sutherland (right) and RSA member Richard Davidson (behind) look on. PHOTO: AIMEE WILSON THE CENTRAL APP

The service at the Alexandra War Memorial also celebrated 160 years of cadet services in New Zealand, and 40 years for the 50 Squadron - Air Training Corps (ATC) based at Clyde.

RSA president Kevin Harding said the service had been held a day earlier since 2019 “as times are tough and people don’t want to take a day off work anymore.”

In 2018 - commemorating 100 years since the end of the war - thousands of people came to Pioneer Park to mark the occasion.

The war brought about 58,000 casualties and 18,200 men gave “the ultimate sacrifice that was their lives - one in five New Zealanders were affected one way or another,” Kevin said.

Elim Church pastor Luke Andrade, Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley, Alexandra-Clyde RSA past-president Gerry Sutherland and 50 Squadron - ATC leader Jill Checketts all spoke at the service.

50 Squadron - Air Training Corps squadron leader Jill Checketts speaks at the service in Alexandra on Sunday.

“It’s important to take the time to remember all the sons and fathers who did not return and for those who did return but were not their selves,” Mayor Tamah said.

Alexandra’s 25-pounder field gun fired three shots following The Last Post played by Christine Wright.

It was understood the gun was made around 1940, and was in service with the New Zealand Army and given to the Alexandra-Clyde RSA as a display unit more than 20 years ago.

Meanwhile yesterday, the Cromwell RSA held a small service at 11am to also commemorate the signing of the armistice between the allies of WW1 and Germany in France.

Also known as Armistice Day, New Zealand and other Commonwealth nations changed the name to Remembrance Day to be more inclusive and honour all those who had fallen in service of their country after World War II.