The uniform was the focus of much attention among his young charges this week, and a good incentive for many of them to attend yesterday's service.
"They kept trying to get me to put [the uniform] on and I'd said, 'I won't put it on until Anzac Day so you have to come if you want to see me in it'," Mr Cartlidge said.
Mr Cartlidge, or "Mr C" as he is known by his pupils, has been training regularly with the territorial force for six years and belongs to a Cromwell unit, which is attached to the 4th Otago Southland Battalion Group.
Anzac Day had been a big focus of his pupils' learning for the past week, and his army uniform and equipment had helped inspire many of them to take a keen interest in the history of the annual day of remembrance, he said.
"It's just good for getting them involved. They love it."
