Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Gilbert Humphries Reid TRIPP (Bert)  

The Bendigo Independent in September 1915 published the following under the heading: - A PATRIOTIC FAMILY, FOUR SOLDIER SON'S.

The opportunity was taken while on final leave to present Pte. G. H. R. Tripp, eldest, son of Mr. G. Tripp of Holdsworth Road, with a neat smoker's outfit, suitably engraved, as a token of esteem, from a few of his neighbours and friends, and wishing him good luck and a safe return. Private Tripp is the third son of Mr. G. Tripp to enlist, while a fourth is probably at the front in France. [1]

Nine months later in June 1916, the Bendigo Independent published this letter home from Bert Tripp: - Mr. and Mrs. Tripp, of Holdsworth Road, Long Gully, have three sons ‘Somewhere in France’ — Gunner G. B. L Tripp, Private W. J. Tripp and Private G. Tripp. Another son, Private B. G. Tripp, is at present in Egypt. Writing to his mother and father from "Somewhere in France," on April 1, Private G. H. R. Tripp says: -                                                                                            "Just a few more lines, trusting they will find you all enjoying good health, as this leaves me at present. We arrived in France after a very enjoyable trip from Egypt. I don't think many are sorry that we left Egypt. I for one am not. Over here the people are more like ourselves. As yet I can't speak much of the 'language, but I am picking it up. The French people are very nice, and are treating us with every courtesy. The boys are behaving splendidly. They appreciate the treatment they are receiving from the French folk.   We are away out in the country, and are billeted amongst various farms. I and a lot more of the men have a large barn to live in, where there is plenty of straw lo sleep. The people do not supply us with food, although you can buy eggs, butter, and bread off them. You have only got to travel through France to find out how the war has affected the place. You can hardly find a young man of military age about the place. They are all at the front. The work is being done on the farms by old men, women and children. It is quite a common sight to see the women out in the fields harrowing and spreading manure, etc., from early, morning until dark. After we left the boat at Marseilles, we had a two days and a half train journey. I was not sorry when it was finished. Although we had good carriages it was a bit cramped. At different stages of the journey we were given hot coffee and rum. As a rule I don't drink any spirits, etc., but I did not throw it away on those occasions. We were given a good reception by the people of the different villages, towns, as we came along. We are not very far away from the firing line, and can hear the big guns booming all the lime. I think we will be in the trenches very shortly now. Just previous to leaving Egypt we were inspected by the Prince of Wales and General Birdwood. Yesterday over here, we were inspected by Lord Kitchener. My opinion of what I have seen of France is that it is a very industrious place, also a very pretty place. I have often thought that the tunnel on the Bendigo to Melbourne line is a long one, but some of the tunnels over here would make a dozen of that one. The weather this last couple of days has been lovely, although the night we arrived here it was very cold, and the next day it snowed a little, just enough to say it snowed. I don't know where Ben is. I have had no letter from him yet, but I suppose he is still in Egypt. I have had no letters from you for some time now, but I suppose they are on the way. Well, dear mother and father, I am not going to write any more in this letter, but you can expect one to follow this very closely. Remember me to all friends around the road, etc., and love to all at home. —  Your loving son, Bert.'[2]

The Tripp family certainly paid a heavy price for their service in the Great War. Bert would serve right through till 1918 being promoted to Sergeant and then unfortunately being severely gassed in August 1918 on the Somme. His two brothers William and Ben would also be wounded and returned to Australia in 1917. 

SERVICE DETAILS: 

Regimental Number: 2438

Place of birth: Bendigo

Religion: Roman Catholic

School: Long Gully State School & Marist Bothers College

Occupation: Miner

Address: Holdsworth Road, Long Gully, Bendigo

Marital status: Single

Age at embarkation: 24

Next of kin: Mother, Mrs Bessie Tripp, Holdsworth Road, Long Gully, Bendigo

Enlistment date: 10 July 1915

Unit name 22nd Battalion, 5th Reinforcement

Embarked: RMS Osterley on 29 September 1915

Final Rank: Sergeant

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189
Date: 8 November 1917

Fate:  Returned to Australia 9 February 1919

Died July 16, 1954 aged 63.

Buried: White Hills Cemetery, Bendigo

Near BULLECOURT on 3rd. May 1917

'The Australian 2nd Division was to attack German positions that ran through Bullecourt and capture some villages that lay beyond. The Australians refused tank support but took 96 Vickers machines into battle. The 6th Brigade which included Bert Tripp’s 22nd battalion attacked at 3.45am and within an hour it held half of its objectives on the Hindenburg Line. Other brigades experienced more difficulties and there were heavy losses for the Division. The battle extended to the 17 May, 1917 with both sides being exhausted. The captured German lines in this battle remained part of the British lines until March 1918. The overall Bullecourt battles left a very sour taste in the mouths of all levels of Australian forces. They now believed they not only had to overcome very resilient German forces but also the short comings of the British High Command'.[3]  

[1] Bendigo Independent, 11 September 1915 p 12

[2] Bendigo Independent, Thu 1 Jun 1916  Page 3 FOUR SOLDIER SONS.
[3] ANZACS in France website -http://www.anzacsinfrance.com/1917/