It might have just been a small broken window and a huge noise, but an echo of the horrors of war sounded in Dunedin yesterday.
At 11am, at the Dunedin Cenotaph in Queens Gardens, a 25-pound field gun was fired at the beginning of two minutes' silence, unleashing a deafening boom and a plume of smoke.
A second shot was fired at the end, and despite it being a blank, the shock wave was strong enough to shatter a window at the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum across the road.
It was a small reminder of the fury of warfare the servicemen being honoured yesterday had experienced.
About 300 people turned up for the 2014 Armistice Day service of remembrance.
Led by retired army chaplain the Rev Dr Tony Martin, the event included hymns and speeches.
The field gun was fired by members of the Gunners Association, who are former members of 31(B) Battery Royal NZ Artillery.
Wreaths were laid at the cenotaph by representatives of the armed services, the Dunedin Returned and Services Association, and the city and regional councils.
RSA president Jenepher Glover said the event was ''fabulous'', with a good turnout.
She was particularly impressed with a hymn, specially written for the event, sung by pupils of the Balmacewen Intermediate School.
