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Caelan Ryan, nine, never met his great-grandfather Sergeant Leonard Sylvester Dick, but proudly wore his World War II hat, jacket and replica medals to the dawn service in Adelaide.

Sergeant Dick was a Japanese prisoner of war for about three months, before he was freed and eventually returned home. 

Ryan, who attended the service with his father Damian, said he feels connected to his great-grandfather. 

He has taken an interest in the family history and its link to the Australian Defence Force. 

'It's very special to be here in memory of him and all the other Australians who fought,' the boy said after the service on Thursday.

'One day we did research on him and we found out that he was in the 57th/60th battalion and he fought in New Guinea.'

Caelan Ryan, nine, never met his great-grandfather Sergeant Leonard Sylvester Dick, but proudly wore his World War II hat, jacket and replica medals to the dawn service in Adelaide

Caelan has taken an interest in the family history and its link to the Australian Defence Force. Damian said his son wears the uniform with a great deal of pride

Damian said his son wears the uniform with a great deal of pride. 

'This is our first ever dawn service but I'm pretty sure we might be coming to a few more,' he said.

As the sun rose on Thursday, thousands gathered at the South Australian National War Memorial and spilled down North Terrace to mark Australia's national day of remembrance.

The 2019 service marks the 104th anniversary of the landing of the Anzacs in Gallipoli, where tens of thousands of soldiers died.

It also marks 100 years since the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919, which ended the state of war between Germany and the allied powers.

The meaning of Anzac Day today includes the remembrance of all Australians, who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and military operations.

The meaning of Anzac Day today includes the remembrance of all Australians, who served and died in all wars, conflicts and military operations

Ian Smith, chair of the RSL SA's Anzac Day committee, highlighted the military service of migrant communities, who sometimes had to overcome the restrictions of the White Australia policy and Defence Act in order to enlist.

'Recent migrants from many nations have a strong record of service in the Australian armed services that continues today,' he told the crowd.

'Some had already served Australia before coming here, like the Afghan interpreters who are now proud South Australians.'

Mr Smith warned against using the Anzac tradition to promote 'unthinking nationalism'.

'We must also be wary of those that seek to misuse the service and sacrifice of our men and women to promote their own narrow agendas,' he said.

'Such actions are unwelcome and we must protect ourselves and our ANZAC traditions from them.'