Martin Catterall never met his maternal grandfather, but the Niddrie man has a heartfelt pride in his ancestor.
Harry Lee was 25 when he joined the 29th battalion in 1915. He fought in France, including a major battle at Fromelles on July 16, 1916, described as a “butcher’s shop”.
Mr Catterall, a member of the Keilor East RSL and an army reservist, has welcomed the club’s plans to honour World War I servicemen and war nurses with a memorial water feature.
“It’s a way to remember the past while looking forward to the future,” he said.
Club president William Laker said the memorial would have pictures of a soldier, sailor and nurse etched into metal behind running water. It will be unveiled as part of next year’s Anzac centenary.
Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten said the club was the first in the area to receive funding from the federal government’s Anzac centenary local grants program.
Mr Shorten, a member of the club, said the organisation would receive $7800, including $6880 for the water feature.
“The RSL has also received funding to restore and reframe a photograph of the men from the Essendon district attending a dinner on September 8, 1914, prior to their deployment to Egypt,” he said.
“These two fantastic projects … will serve as lasting reminders of the personal sacrifices made by men and women from our local community.”
