Action, instant... RAAFSgt Bill Guthrie fires the Lee Enfield. Photo by Sgt Brian Hartigan.

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month was marked in most appropriate fashion in Canberra recently when members and supporters of the district's Army Rifle Association turned out in force for the annual Remembrance Day .303 shoot.

More than 40 Lee Enfield .303 rifles, most of them older than their owners, were dusted off and pulled through for the opportunity to send some lead down range.

In fine but rather cool and blustery conditions, some remarkable and consistent results were posted by the mainly former-serving field.

A. Cunneen, representing RAE, staved off the competition with scores of 48.3, 47.3 and 27 (total 122.6) from the 300m mound in deliberate, rapid and snap serials respectively.

John Williams from Junee took second place accolades on 122.2, pipped at the post by just four centres, with M Floyd, also RAE, just one point behind on 121.4.

Special prizes were also awarded to two individuals who put in a sterling effort in a Period Dress category.

RAAF Sgt Bill Guthrie, PACC, and Flt-Sgt Greg Lyons, RAAF Base Fairbairn, dressed in WW2 Army and RAAF uniforms respectively and with Lee Enfield .303s in hand, added immensely to the atmosphere of commemorations.

Sgt Guthrie's effort was all the more remarkable in that he used his mid-deployment R&R from East Timor to come home especially for the shoot.

Canberra District Army Rifle Association president WO2 Scott Ainslie said he was delighted to see so many shooters turn out for a very special occasion.

"It is very poignant to mark this day in this way. Some of the rifles fired here today were actually fired in the battles we are here to remember," he said.

"It is also a poignant and rare occurrence that this annual shoot actually falls on the same day we are commemorating."

He said it was a very pleasurable thing to get back on the mound to shoot any kind of bullet down range.

"To see so many people turn up on this special day willing to lend their support to shooting and to CDARA is very encouraging."

By Sgt Brian Hartigan