The RSL’s idea of honouring the Vietnam veterans by letting them head the march for the first time certainly paid off.

Fewer than 100,000 people were in the streets at the start of the march at 9am in bright but cool conditions.

But as the morning warmed up numbers swelled to about 150,000.

According to organisers this was much better than last year, when the march was held on a Sunday.

The start of yesterday’s march was delayed for two minutes when a flare attached to a timing device ignited in the middle of wreaths on the Cenotaph.

Several wreaths burst into flames, but were quickly extinguished by three Scouts using their hats and an ambulanceman’s fire extinguisher.

It happened a moment after the G.P.O. clock had struck 9 o’clock - the signal for the march to start.

The flare apparently was hidden in one of the wreaths.

The incident shocked the Custodian of the Cenotaph, Major J.D. Westwood, who helped fight the blaze.

“Surely they must have some respect for the past,” he said.

Loading

“They would not be able to do it if we lost the war.”

The State president of the RSL, Mr Colin J. Hines, said: “It was an insult to the memory of those who paid the supreme sacrifice to keep this country free, and to every man, woman and child in Australia.”

Mr Hines offered to replace the Scout’s hats.