Keith Payne VC AM, 85, received Australia's highest military honour for rescuing fellow soldiers while under enemy fire and suffering his own injuries during the Battle of Ben Het in 1969.

Mr Payne will join thousands of other veterans, serving personnel and descendants on the annual commemorative march from the National War Memorial on North Terrace to the Cross of Sacrifice in North Adelaide.

The march will follow the city's dawn service, also held at the memorial, where more than 10,000 people are expected to gather from 6am.

On the 100th year since the signing of the Versailles peace agreement, chair of the RSL Anzac Day committee Ian Smith said the day's focus would be on people.

"Anzac Day is not about winning battles, it is about honouring and commemorating the service and sacrifice of the nearly 103,000 young Australians who have died in the service of our country," he said.

Mr Smith said many Australians still have a connection to service men and women and the city's dawn service offers an opportunity to reflect.

"The atmosphere of the dawn service - held mostly in the dark without the distractions of everyday life - deepens the contemplative spirit and it ends with dawn, a new day," he said.

Mr Smith will deliver an address at the service, which he said would focus on the service of the migrant community to the Australian Defence Force.

Australian Associated Press