Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Richard Watson

A Gallipoli Veteran

Gordon Tasman Triffett, born 1895 died 1983.
Gordon Triffett was born at New Norfolk, he served for a while in the Senior Cadets before enlisting on the 30th March 1915.

His first action was at Gallipoli before returning to England and then being shipped to Calais in 1916 to be involved in the actions on the Somme.

Twice wounded, first in the Battle of Poziere’s on about 4th August 1916, he was evacuated and away from his unit till November 1916, then very seriously wounded at the capture of Lagnicourt on 26th March 1917.

Lagnicourt, in northern France, was the scene of fierce fighting in March and April 1917. When the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line in March and the British and dominion forces advanced rapidly in their wake but as they neared the Hindenburg Line they were confronted by well-prepared rearguard forces, which were only removed after difficult fights. One such action took place at Lagnicourt between 26 and 27 March. Closing with the Hindenberg Line, the British lost no time in launching a major offensive around Arras. This left their line weak in several places, including Lagnicourt. Aware of this weakness, the Germans launched a counter-stroke in the Lagnicourt area at dawn on 15 April, utilising 23 battalions. Their aim was not to permanently recapture the territory, but merely to hold it for a day and capture or destroy all the equipment and supplies they found there. They rapidly occupied Lagnicourt and captured several batteries of the 1st Australian Division's artillery. A vigorous counter-attack by four Australian battalions just after 7 am recaptured the village and most of the guns, and forced a premature German withdrawal.

He returned to Tasmania at the conclusion of the war and spent time in the Repatriation Hospital based in Claremont. He must have been taught the rudiments of carpentry and cabinet making as part of the training that the younger soldiers received during their convalescence.

On discharge he formed a short lived partnership with another returned soldier, James Vernon Backhouse. Their workshop was based in Park Street, (now part of the Brooker Highway).

His skills as a cabinet maker saw him providing Ellen Nora Payne with suitable pieces that she employed her talent on in carving, amongst which was the Honour Roll at Hutchins School. He himself was a skilled carver using tools that had once belonged to William Sculthorpe, from a previous generation
He worked with Tasmanian timbers and he had the knowledge passed down to him that he was able to recreate the wonderful finish that we see on the best antique birdseye Huon Pine furniture.

He and his wife Kathleen had their own private museum, and many were the treasures that they garnered over the years.

Gordon Triffett was one of a number of skilled amateur violin makers producing instruments in Australia during the twentieth century but only one of a small number who at the time worked in Tasmania
His son is a talented musician and Gordon decided to branch out and make his first violin, I am told that some of the wood used in that instrument was from an old packing case.

I believe a total of thirteen instruments were made including a Cello and one viola, the other eleven instruments were violins.

The family have generously donated some of these instruments to various museums including the Powerhouse in Sydney, The QVM in Launceston and the Tasmanian Museum and Art gallery in Hobart. A description of the latter donation is as follow. “The violin is made from Australian timbers comprising a myrtle back and ribs, while the belly is made from King William pine. The neck and scroll are possibly made from blackwood or stringybark, while the chin rest is made from Tasmanian blackwood. The violin features four ivory carved tuning pegs, and an amethyst gem stone is set on the tailpiece”.