A Belgian band that has played the Last Post almost every day for 90 years to honour Australian soldiers who defended their city say they will do it forever.
Last Post Association chairman Benoit Mottrie attended the official gifting of two replica stone lions from the Australian government to the Belgian city of Ypres on Monday night.
The stone lions are Australia's gift to the city and Mr Mottrie's association has played the Last Post 31,215 times in tribute to Australian and Commonwealth soldiers since it was formed by his great-grandfather in 1928.
The original stone lions are in Canberra, a gift from Ypres to Australia to commemorate the 38,000 Australians who were killed, wounded or went missing around the city in the First World War.
Mr Mottrie said he was honoured by Australia's gift but believes sounding the Last Post at the city's Menin Gate memorial at 8pm sharp every night of the year is the least the band can do.
"We don't want to forget the Australians and the others of the Commonwealth who lost their lives here," he told AAP on Monday.
"It's out duty to continue with our tradition and we are motivated to go on into perpetuity."
Australian War Memorial chairman Kerry Stokes said the mayor of Ypres sent the remnants of the original stone lions as a gift to Australia in the 1930s.
They were restored and set to stand guard at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, where they remain today.
"These lions have been standing guard since they were given to us as a gift," Mr Stokes told AAP.
"We are now giving back to them a replica copy, so I think it binds us together much more."
Hundreds of locals answered Ypres Mayor Jan Durnez's call to come out on a cold November evening, lining the city's ramparts and the moat for a ceremony on Monday.
Belgian couple Marc de Wit and Hewdwig van der Poel, both in their 60s, travelled 150km to Ypres for the ceremony.
They said they did so out of respect for Australians.
"They came over to give their lives for our freedom today," Mr de Wit told AAP.
"It was a touching ceremony ... we're very glad we are here."
Ms van de Poel said she was moved by the Last Post, saying it is "so sincere and it's so real ... it's gone through your heart".
The new lions sit right where the originals once sat at the Menin Gate, the first Commonwealth memorial to be dedicated on the Western Front back in 1927.
The memorial archway is today inscribed with the names of 54,896 Commonwealth soldiers, including 6194 Australians, who marched out into the Ypres Salient and were never seen again.
Till this day the soldiers have no known graves - their remains lie where they fell.
