Former Prime Minister John Howard pays tribute at Remembrance Day service in Canberra Former Prime Minister John Howard lays a poppy at the Afghanistan Roll of Honour during the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. Former Prime Minister John Howard has paid tribute to the "remarkable sacrifice" of Australia's fallen soldiers, war veterans and serving defence force members during a Remembrance Day service in Canberra. A crowd of thousands turned out for the national ceremony at the Australian War Memorial on Tuesday morning. Mr Howard delivered a moving commemorative address to mark this year's 96th anniversary of Armistice. The sacrifice of Australians we honour today is quite remarkable. He paid tribute to 60,000 Australian soldiers who died in World War I and the 40 per cent of Australian men who volunteered for service. He urged Australians to remember defence force personnel who died or were currently serving in conflict. As we gather today we should also remember there is no hierarchy of sacrifice among Australia's war dead. Mr Howard recalled his own personal connection to World War I, as both his father and grandfather served in the conflict. He reflected on a chance meeting which saw the father and son pair cross paths the night before the battle of Mont Saint Quentin. Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who is in Beijing for the APEC summit, did not attend. He was represented by Veterans Affairs Minister Michael Ronaldson. Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Defence Force chief Mark Binskin also attended. ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher was among dignitaries who laid wreaths at the memorial stone. School children from every state and territory, including a group from St Clare's College in Canberra, also laid floral tributes. Lance Corporal Todd Chigney, who was killed in Afghanistan in July, was added to the honour roll. The commemorations will continue until this afternoon, when the eulogy of the unknown soldier, first delivered by former Prime Minister Paul Keating in 1993, will be read during today's Last Post Ceremony at the memorial.