This service is always well attended and is hosted by the Southern Highlands sub-branch of the National Servicemen's Association of Australia.

It will begin at 8am and will be followed by refreshments at the hall adjoining the All Saints Anglican Church.

Below is a historical insight into the Merchant Navy:

The parents of 16-year-old David Abbott, a civilian deck hand on a hospital ship sailing in Australian coastal waters in 1943, must have felt "their boy" was as safe as could be from the perils of global war.

But it was not to be.

David was one of 26 crew members of the hospital ship Centaur who were in merchant service.

In total, 268 people died when their ship was hit by a torpedo

He died along with 267 others when their ship was torpedoed without warning by Japanese submarine I-177 at 4am on May 12, 1943.

The wreck of the Centaur rested on the ocean floor 50 miles off Brisbane, and was found in 2009.

The 64 survivors of the sinking ship spent 35 hours on rafts before being rescued.

In wartime, a nation like Australia depends on civilian ships to move cargo and troops for its defence.

The title "Merchant Navy" was granted by King George V after WW1 to recognise the contribution made by merchant sailors.

Australia's official history of WW2 gives the number of dead resulting from submarine attack (including one sinking by a German U-boat) at 654, from the 30 ships destroyed.

Of these 654 dead, 200 were Australian, proof of the multi-national make-up of crews on merchant ships in Australian waters.

But other estimates place the number much higher, including the assertion that one in every eight Australian merchant seamen, or 12.5 per cent, died as a result of wartime sea service.

If that is so, the casualty rate exceeds that of the Royal Australian Navy.

On global maritime fronts, Merchant Navy losses were horrendous - 30,000 British and 8000 American sailors perished, mainly because of enemy submarines and mines.

These merchant ships were crewed by ordinary everyday seamen, untrained for war, unequipped for self-defence, but constantly at risk of sudden death - in the form of a torpedo in the middle of the night.

The fortitude, dedication and courage of Merchant Navy sailors contributed powerfully to the nation's war effort, and eventual victory.

We owe them a debt of gratitude not less than that so valiantly earned by our fighting forces.

By Garry Barnsley, OAM

AUSTRALIA'S Anzac Day commemoration ceremonies are entering a crucial stage.

Between 2014-18, the period will mark 100 years since the nation's involvement in WW1. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture Gallipoli peninsula, in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies.

The soldiers aimed to capture Constantinople, which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.

The ANZAC forces landed in Gallipoli on April 25 and were met by fierce resistance from the Ottoman defenders.

At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated, after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships.

More than 8000 Australian soldiers were killed. April 25 was officially named Anzac Day in 1916.

The day was marked by a wide variety of ceremonies and services in Australia, a march through London and numerous sporting events in the Australian camp in Egypt.

April 25 soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who died in the war.

Visit the Australian War Memorial website, www.awm.gov.au, for more details.

BOWRAL

5.50am: Dawn service at the Bowral War Memorial Park. Assemble for march at 5.40am at Camerons Newsagency

10.35am: March at Oxley Mall car park to the war memorial

11am: Anzac service at the war memorial.

MITTAGONG

5.15am: Dawn service at Winifred West Park, followed by breakfast at the Mittagong RSL.

10.15am: Assemble at the Visitor Information Centre to march to the Mittagong Cenotaph

10.30am: Anzac service

2-6pm: Two-up in the Carrington room at the Mittagong RSL.

MOSS VALE

10.40am: March from Queen St for the WWII Cenotaph outside the Moss Vale Services Club.

11am: Anzac service at the cenotaph.

BUNDANOON

6am: Dawn service at the Bundanoon Cenotaph

10.30am: March from the CWA Hall in Railway Avenue to the memorial hall.

11am: Wreath laying service at the memorial, followed by Anzac commemoration service.

BERRIMA

5.30am: Dawn service at the Berrima War Memorial Area

10.30am: Anzac service.

BURRAWANG

11am: Wreath laying service at the Burrawang War Memorial, followed by Anzac service in the Burrawang School of Arts.

EXETER

9am: March and Anzac service at Exeter Park. Morning tea afterwards.

HILL TOP

6am: Dawn service at the Hill Top War Memorial Hall. Light breakfast to follow.

ROBERTSON

10.15am: Wreath laying ceremony at the Robertson War Memorial.

SUTTON FOREST

8am: Anzac service at the National Service and Reserve Forces Memorial. Assemble at 7.45am at All Saints Church for march to the memorial.