UNRELENTING rain forced many Anzac Day services across the Port indoors this year, but hundreds still turned out to pay homage to soldiers who have fought and died in war.

While the Nelson Bay RSL sub-branch was able to hold its dawn service at the memorial in Apex Park, a downpour of rain shortly after that did not stop until after 11am, meaning the main service had to be held in the Nelson Bay Bowling Club.

Nelson Bay RSL sub-branch secretary Tony Minchin said it has been about three years since they were forced inside to commemorate the day.

"It [service] went OK under the circumstances," he said.

"We cancelled the march because we didn't want any of the old fellas slipping over.

"We're very happy and thankful to the bowling club for giving us the auditorium at such short notice."

Usually one of the Port's biggest services, moving indoors did not change that tradition.

Mr Minchin estimated more than 300 people packed into the club's auditorium like "sardines" for the service, which Williamtown-based Wing Commander Lee de Winton spoke at.

Last year Wing Commander de Winton was in Afghanistan for Anzac Day, where she was deployed as base commander at Multinational Base Tarin Kwot.

This year in her hometown of Nelson Bay she paid homage to veterans who have given their lives through war.

"Peace and freedom requires a sacrifice," she said.

"People will always remember that sacrifice.

"We are a nation of people who must never forget, who never will forget."

Both Raymond Terrace services were held at the bowling club due to poor weather.

Raymond Terrace RSL sub-branch secretary Bill Garrett said about 300 people turned out for both its services, lining themselves around the club's bowling greens out of the rain.

Mr Garrett said both services were "very good" and "packed" even in the wet conditions.

Tilligerry RSL sub-branch president Noel Cartwright said about 500 people turned out to its Dawn Service at the memorial.

"It's getting bigger and better every year," he said.

The pouring rain forced commemorations to be moved inside the Tilligerry RSL Sports Club, which Mr Cartwright said was "chock-a-block full".

"We had people in the auditorium, the lounge and outdoor area," he said.

Next year Anzac Day will mark 100 years since Australia's involvement in the Gallipoli landing.

UPDATE 12pm

DESPITE the weather literally raining on parades and marches across the Port for Anzac Day, crowds in the hundreds still flocked to services.

The Raymond Terrace 11am service was held under the shelter of the bowling club's greens.

On the Tilligerry Peninsula, the main service was held inside the Tilligerry RSL Sports Club at Tanilba Bay.

The Nelson Bay main service was held inside the Nelson Bay Bowling Club.

All marches were cancelled, however services went ahead as usual.

The Nelson Bay service, usually one of the Port's largest, still pulled a strong contingent of about 1000 people who packed the bowling club's auditorium.

Nelson Bay RSL sub-branch president John Tate said he could not remember the last time wet weather forced them to conduct the main ceremony inside.

He said it had been "some time".

Main services in Tea Gardens and Bulahdelah were also forced indoors.

The Tea Gardens Bowling Club opened its doors to people for the 10am service while the RSL Memorial Hall was opened in Bulahdelah.

EARLIER 9.40am

MEMBERS of RSL sub-branches across the Port are busy putting plan B into action.

Wet weather, which does not look to subside, has forced Anzac Day main services indoors.

While the Nelson Bay RSL sub-branch said it would wait until 10.30am to make a decision on whether members would march or not, at 9.30am it was not looking good.

‘‘We had a look at BOM [Bureau of Meteorology] and a bit of a storm has come across, but there doesn’t look to be anything behind it,’’ Nelson Bay RSL sub-branch secretary Tony Minchin said.

‘‘We’ll make a decision about it right on time [10.30am].’’

Mr Minchin said if it was too wet, the Nelson Bay 11am service would be moved inside the Nelson Bay Bowling Club.

Raymond Terrace RSL sub-branch secretary Bill Garret said its 11am service would take place under the cover of the Raymond Terrace Bowling Club.

The Dawn Service was held around the bowling greens about 6am this morning due to rain.

The Tilligerry Peninsula’s service will take place inside the Tilligerry RSL Club at 10am.

The Tea Gardens main service will start at 10am at the Tea Gardens Bowling Club, on Yalinbah Street.

Bulahdelah's main service will be held in the RSL Memorial Hall on Crawford Street at 11am, followed by lunch at the Bulahdelah Bowling Club at 12.30pm.

EARLIER 6.30am

STRONG crowds turned out to Dawn Services across the Port early Friday morning, despite wet weather.

In Nelson Bay, the rain held off just long enough for the Dawn Service to end.

Nelson Bay RSL sub-branch secretary Tony Minchin said the Dawn Service in Apex Park drew a "good crowd".

"There was about 1500," he said.

"I think the weather may have kept some away.

"It poured down at my place about 2.30 this morning."

Mr Minchin said the new memorial, relocated from the top of the park to the bottom last year, also looked "very good".

Williamtown RAAF Base 76 Squadron performed the Bay's catafalque party.

In attendance was Vietnam Veterans of 3RAR C Company.

Rain forced the Raymond Terrace RSL sub-branch to relocate its Dawn Service to the nearby bowling club.

Hundreds lined around the Raymond terrace Bowling Club's green pitches, taking shelter from the pouring rain.

All eyes looked to the middle of the bowling green, where the sub-branch conducted the service and to where the makeshift cenotaph was located.