Pilgrims gather at Gallipoli for service Roland McEwin, 79, has worn a suit and a tie to attend the dawn service at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli peninsula. It's a relatively rare sight with many younger pilgrims wearing hoodies emblazoned with the name of their tour group. Others are simply rugged up against the cold, often in blankets. "I feel as though I'm a bit of an upper-class type of person being dressed like this after seeing the others," Mr McEwin told AAP. The 79-year-old made slow but steady progress towards the commemorative site early on Thursday morning with the aid of a walking stick. He wore the medals he had received after being conscripted to fight in the Korean War which ended before he was sent away. Mr McEwin decided to visit Gallipoli this year before he gets older and less able. "It's always been my desire to visit some of the forebears," he said. About 4000 people had entered the site by 2am local time. Organisers are expecting 6000 in total, which is the same number as the past few years. A bleary-eyed Jessica Hills, 24, had been trying to get some sleep before the dawn service starts at 5.30am. The Melbourne woman arrived on the peninsula early on Wednesday afternoon and was camped under the stars with her boyfriend and thousands of others in sleeping bags. She thought about coming in 2015 for the 100th anniversary of the ill-fated landing, but was put off by the controversial ballot which will limit places to 8000 Australians and 2000 New Zealanders. "There's no guarantee of a spot," she said. Ms Hills was at Gallipoli to pay her respects to all the Anzacs. These people put their hands up and said we'll go and defend the country. To be here is to pay them respect and celebrate their achievements and what they accomplished.