Sergeant Philip Edward Utting
- Rank
- Sergeant
- Appointment
- Australian Army 1917 Western Front
- Service number
- 36
- Unit
- 20 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Wippenhoek, Belgium
- Date of death
- 9 October 1917
- Age
- 28
- Plaque number
- MW13B
- Co-located plaques
- MW13 - AB Peter Utting
- MW13A - LIEUT Richard Utting
- Dedicated by
- His family on 15 May 2021
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Sergeant Philip Edward Utting of 20 Battalion was a citizen of the United Kingdom, having been born in 1889 at Dulwich, England, to parents James and Therese Utting. He had two brothers, Arthur and Richard.
After being schooled at the Maynard Road Primary in Walthamstow, England, Philip worked as a clerk. In 1911 at the age of 24 years, he emigrated to Western Australia and joined brother Richard in West Perth. Three years later he crossed to Sydney in search of work, and when World War I broke out in 1914, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Liverpool, NSW in February of the following year.
He completed initial training in Sydney and was assigned to 20 Battalion which had recently been raised. Following training, the battalion travelled to Albany in Western Australia to join the naval convoy sailing to Egypt. After further training, Philip’s unit saw action towards the end of the Gallipoli campaign before being evacuated in December 1915. At ANZAC Cove they were involved in the August campaign and then were deployed in the defence of Russell’s Top.
After further training in Egypt, 20 Battalion proceeded to France in March 1916, and was attached to 5 Brigade of 2 Division AIF. Initially this force saw action in trenches near Pozieres, but then proceeded to fight in the Battles of Bullecourt in May, and at Pozieres in July and August. Philip later in 1916 saw action in Belgium at both Menin Road and Poelcappelle in September and October respectively.
By this time Philip had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and specialised in signals.
Sergeant Philip Edward Utting, service number 36 of 20 Battalion, was killed in action at Wippenhoek, Belgium on 9 October 1917. He was 28 years of age.
Philip is commemorated at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders in Belgium and at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. His diary, which he maintained throughout his service, is now an exhibit in that memorial.
His plaques is located alongside his relatives, Able Seaman Peter Septimus Utting and Lieutenant Richard Haynes Utting.