PEOPLE who have not served in any arm of the military will be deterred from taking part in the unique Warwick Anzac Day Fade Away Ceremony this year.

The Fade Away is a slow march by serving and ex-service men and women through the ranks of young people, mainly high school students, signifying the handing over of the “torch of service” to the next generation and is something unique to Warwick.

Former RSL Sub-branch deputy president John Skinner said many veterans from throughout Australia had been asked about the ceremony and no-one could yet identify another area which conducts anything similar.

“The part of this ceremony which is difficult, even to those who have had military drill training, let alone those who haven’t, is the slow march,” he said.

“In the past we’ve had non-service folks take part in the ceremony only to look completely out of place because they didn’t understand the slow march etiquette.

“This year, without upsetting anyone, we want to ensure only those who have been trained to slow march actually take part.

“After all, it’s a ceremony of special significance to military people and may have originated partly from John McCrae’s World War I poem, In Flanders Fields where, in the third verse, he wrote;

Take up our quarrel with the foe;

To you from failing hands we throw, The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders Fields.”

Mr Skinner also said a certain code of dress would be required of everyone taking part in the ANZAC Day Parade Digger’s Column.

“Dress styles have changed and will continue to change but inappropriate clothing will not be permitted in the Digger’s column at this year’s ANZAC Day march,” he said.

“We had some complaints after the 2010 parade, more particularly from ex-service people themselves, concerning the dress of some people wearing the medals of a deceased relative.

“While we encourage the wearing of medals of a deceased relative, those who choose to do so must dress appropriately.

“This doesn’t necessarily mean a suit and tie but something like a jacket or a pressed shirt is considered more appropriate.

“Anzac Day is Australia’s way of paying homage to those soldiers, sailors, airmen, nurses, merchant seamen and others of both sexes who did not return but paid the supreme sacrifice.

“We also say thank you to those who were wounded and to all who served and to wear thongs and shorts or similar is disrespectful.”