WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND residents are invited to remember Australian and New Zealand soldiers this Anzac Day.

Residents are invited to pay their respects at the Anzac Memorial Service, a short wreath laying in recognition of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac).

At 11am on Tuesday, April 25, Weymouth will hold a Civic Service at the Anzac Memorial monolith on the seafront opposite the Hotel Prince Regent.

On June 1 2005, the three-sided Monolith was unveiled on Weymouth Seafront, 90 years after the first Australian and New Zealand Arm Corps Troops arrived in Weymouth after action in Gallipoli in 1915.

Wreaths will be laid by the Deputy Mayor and representatives of Australia House and New Zealand House from London, ex-service groups and expatriates living or working in Weymouth.

The memorial honours the thousands of Australian and New Zealand volunteer servicemen who passed through camps and hospitals in Dorset during the First World War between battles in the Middle East and the Western Front in Europe.

The event is open for anyone to attend.

Nick Thornley, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s Head of Economy, Leisure and Tourism, said: “Anzac Day is a chance to commemorate and honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army who fought at Gallipoli during World War I.

"Everyone is welcome to attend the service in recognition of the sacrifice made by personnel of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.”

Ninety Anzac soldiers, mostly from Australia, died in Weymouth and were buried in war graves around the town.

The Deputy Mayor of Weymouth & Portland Mayor will be laying a wreath together with Commander Rob Elphick, from the Royal Australian Navy and Lt Robert Nesbit from the New Zealand Defence Force.

Representatives from ex-service organisations and associations will also be attending the ceremony.

More information can be found on the Dorset County Council website.