Close to 1500 people attended the Anzac Day dawn service in Invercargill this morning.

Under a glowing sunrise and clear skies, attendees scrambled to find a vantage point at the Invercargill Cenotaph with crowds extending onto footpaths and roads.

A large video screen was a popular vantage point, as were park benches and road median strips.

A serviceman salutes during the flag raising ceremony at the Anzac Day dawn service in Invercargill. PHOTO: Ben Waterworth

Sergeant Chris Hore from the Invercargill 2/4 battalion was impressed with the large turn out.

He said he had been coming to the dawn service for more than 22 years, which extended beyond his career in the army.

"As a serving member it’s coming and respecting the ones that have served before you as well. Not only the ones that have their names on the cenotaph but also the ones that are there at the RSA and sort of there to support them and I guess one day it’ll be me in the crowd with the RSA marching in the crowd and placing a poppy. And then seeing another soldier standing there doing my job so that’s what it’s all about."

Sgt Hore said the 2/4 battalion was a small group of just over 15 soldiers who represented not only Invercargill, but all of Southland.

"We do Invercargill and all the other centres in Southland. So out to Tuatapere, Otautau, Riverton, Bluff, Gore, Tapanui. So we’re spread quite thin. That’s why we have such a small group here because we’ve got groups everywhere around the province." 

The rest of the day would remain busy for him he said, with plans to attend a service at Bluff as well as visiting a variety of RSA's around the region to "say g’day to the soldiers and have a beer with them." 

Alongside the veterans and general public in attendance at the service were Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt, National Party MP Sarah Dowie and Labour Party MP Dr Liz Craig.

There was a significant police presence at the service, with roads around the Cenotaph closed and at least two police officers, some with semi-automatic weapons, positioned at every corner around the venue.

Armed police watch on during the Anzac Day dawn service in Invercargill. PHOTO: Ben Waterworth