Speckles of light rain greeted onlookers who gathered at the Mossman Cenotaph at 5.15am this morning to hear a moving Dawn Service - many a rusted-on local will tell you rain is the usual occurrence on Anzac Day morning in Douglas Shire.

But the umbrellas of about 1000 attendees were mostly folded away by the time the official speeches kicked off at 5.30am.

A respectful crowd bowed their heads as they observed a minute of silence for the fallen, with the distant chirp of tropical birds and cicadas adding to the occasion.

The cenotaph was lit by one orange streetlight high above nestled behind overhanging coconut palms as a single flagbearer in a white uniform ran the Australian flag up the pole, with three small children crouched in the background looking on in wonder.

Navy personnel from Australian Defence Vessel Cape Fourcroy stood in a line saluting to the left of the official white tent as political, religious and military officials milled around behind the microphone podium.

A bugler played a stirring rendition of The Last Post from out of the shadows and a solo piper heralded in the approaching dawn.

MC and new Mossman RSL president John Grime introduced Cook MP David Kempton, who spoke of the brave sacrifice of past soldiers.

“It’s an important day in any calendar year that we honour and respect those that have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Mr Kempton said.

“And not only the fallen, but their families and the communities who suffered the privation of war.”

But it was outgoing RSL president Ron Savage who touched many hearts with a reading of a personal family letter from World War II about the death of a relative, and the toll it took on his mother, who had held up OK while her loved ones were with her, but then descended into heavy sadness after they went home.

“Poor mum has been very brokenhearted,” Mr Savage read.

“Everytime a telegram or letter arrives she breaks down again.”

That was when the family received the letter from the military they were dreading.

“It is with deep regret, and following further information, in regard to the above name, it is conveyed to you, the international Red Cross Geneva reports, he died of illness while a prisoner of war.”

And that illness turned out to be starvation, which was almost too much for the mother to bear.

By this time the rain had completely stopped - and it held off for the rest of the ceremony - as a host of wreaths were laid at the foot of the cenotaph by community members, former soldiers and children from the local schools.

An ageing onlooker in a wheelchair with a “P” plate on it contrasted poignantly with the new generation walking past to line up with their offerings, but all generations were here to pay their respects to those who had made the ultimate sacrifice so we could be there today.

As the crowd drifted away at the end one young person stood for a moment before the memorial bathed in the light of the cenotaph ground lighting while the white-uniformed flagbearer lowered the flag to mark the end of another Mossman Dawn Service. 

Lest we forget.