THE McHattie family will be proud to remember their Gallipoli connection when the Anzac Memorial Walk is officially opened next week.
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Retired auctioneer Don McHattie, from Bar Beach, is the nephew and namesake of Captain Donald Gordon McHattie.
Don lives opposite Memorial Drive, a stone's throw from the new walk.
Captain McHattie is just one of the 3600 names etched into the life-sized steel cutouts at either end of the walk.
The cutouts were the last piece to be installed, with the $4.5 million, 300-metre walk to open just in time for Anzac Day.
Born in 1892, Captain McHattie was an accountant before enlisting at age 22.
He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT Afric in October 1914.
McHattie landed in Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 and was Mentioned In Despatches (MID) by General Sir Ian Hamilton on two occasions. He returned to Newcastle in December 1915 with severe enteric fever.
He rejoined in January 1916 and was tasked with organising the 24th A.S.C Company attached to the 9th Infantry Brigade, commanding the company as captain.
It is believed he stood on the steps of the old Newcastle Post Office to encourage enlistments and his letters speak of the bravery of the Newcastle men who fought.
Captain McHattie sustained wounds in a 1917 battle and died in Messines, Belgium, aged 24.
He is buried in Belgium's Kandahar Farm Cemetery.
Remembering the Anzac spirit has become tradition for the extended McHattie family.
Don will be wearing his uncle's medals at the Cooks Hill Surf Life Saving Club service next Saturday, standing proudly to honour those who served.