Name
Henry Kelso Utterson (DSO)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/08/1918
40
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant Colonel
Dorsetshire Regiment
Attached to 15th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Distinguished Service Order, Mentioned in Despatches three times
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
IGNAUCOURT CHURCHYARD
On South West side of churchyard
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Northaw memorials,
The chapel at Twyford Prep School in Hampshire
Pre War
He was born in 1878, in Geneva, Switzerland, the son of Major.-General. Archibald. H. Utterson, C.B., and Mrs. Isabel Melissa Utterson. In 1897 he joined the Army and probably commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 58th regiment of Foot, which the next year became the 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire regiment. He remained with this Regiment and took part in The Boer War in South Africa, during which he took part in The Relief of Ladysmith, and several other operations including action at Spion Kop, Vaal Krantz, Tugela Heights and others. London Gazette16th January 1900: The Dorsetshire Regiment, Second Lieutenant H. K. Utterson to be Lieutenant, Dated 1st December, 1899. In 1911 he is shown as being a Captain and serving in India with his Regiment and whilst in India, he married Beatrice.
Wartime Service
6th November 1914 he landed in The Persian Gulf as part of The Indian Expeditionary Force for action in Mesopotamia. In 1915 he was promoted to Major, later becoming Lieutenant Colonel, attached, as Officer Commanding, 15th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers who were serving in France. He was wounded twice whilst serving and was killed in action. He was awarded the DSO, entry from The London Gazette 15th March 1916: Major Henry Kelso Utterson, 2nd Battalion, The Dorsetshire Regiment. For conspicuous gallantry and ability. He led his men with marked coolness and skill when assaulting a strong redoubt. He behaved very gallantly in several engagements, during one of which he took command of his Battalion when all the senior Officers had been killed or wounded, and led a successful charge resulting in the capture of the enemy's trenches.
Additional Information
At the time of his death, his wife was living at The Cottage, Northaw.
Acknowledgments
www.mocavo.co.uk, Brian Lodge
