250:"Anyone who met "Broo" Phillpotts could not fail to be attracted by the charm of his manner, by his unfailing good humour and by his complete lack of 'side'. Perhaps the most distinctive trait in his character was the independence of his thought and judgment and also of his actions, coupled as it was with the widest tolerance of the views of others. Where there was any work to be done, whether on duty or in connection with any of his hobbies, there was no shirking. He would not allow himself to be defeated, and his unerring instinct and ingenuity generally led him straight to the essential result by the shortest cut."
266:" always appeared perfectly oblivious to danger. No officer ever set a finer example of utter contempt of all danger. He showed to others what could be done in overcoming what appeared to be insurmountable obstacles. The weather and the state of the ground were appalling, yet he overcame them, and in a very short space of time we had a tramway and two roads up to our new front line in the captured position. This was over two and a half miles of Flanders mud, waist deep in most places. Mainly through his exertions the Infantry in the front line had their full rations and were kept supplied with everything."
281:"After repeated attacks had failed to capture Fricourt, and whilst a bombardment of the village was taking place, got out of our front line trench and waved his hat. Finding no one shot at him, he walked across, in the open, to a point two hundred yards in front of Fricourt Farm, an enemy strong point. Again finding no one shot him on his waving his hat, he returned to our line and sent this message to Divisional Headquarters 'Only thing stopping our Infantry entering Fricourt is our artillery barrage!'"
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up a simple crane and installed a band saw, two circular saws, a drilling machine, a lathe and a grindstone. All this equipment was driven from one shaft by two ten horsepower steam engines and a small petrol engine. Most of the machinery was salvaged from damaged French factories at Albert. The saws were used to form beams and sleepers out of logs culled from nearby woods. The waste wood chippings and bark were used as fuel to heat water for two communal bath tubs set up by the major.
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During the Somme operation Major
Phillpotts also constructed improvised shelters consisting of curved steel bowers made of salvaged lengths of rail covered over and reinforced with timber and sandbags. "Such covers saved many lives during the eight days' bombardment which preceded the July offensive
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Brian
Phillpotts had many hobbies which developed his self-reliance and resource. At school he was particularly fond of chemistry, electricity and explosives, from the last of which he had more than one narrow escape. He was a keen sailor and used to venture out in heavy seas in small homemade boats
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broke out he was at Fort Camden, County Cork. He was promoted major on 30 October 1914 and appointed to train a field company, which he took to the front in
September 1915. In the autumn of 1916 he was appointed chief royal engineer of a division, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was slightly
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In 1916 the headquarters for
Phillpotts' company were established at Ville-sous-Corbie. A large barn in a barren field was all the accommodation available. Within a fortnight Major Phillpotts made comfortable beds of timber and wire netting for everyone as well as cook houses and stables. He rigged
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In preparation for the July 1916 offensive Major
Phillpotts had to plan and supervise the construction of trenches for the assault troops within 150 yards of the enemy's position, and also the construction of roads and tramway lines so that ammunition, rations, water and other supplies could be
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in
Chatham. After leaving Chatham he specialised in submarine mining and was stationed successively at Plymouth, Bermuda, Halifax (Nova Scotia), Gravesend and Hong Kong. He was in charge of the submarine defences of the Thames till these were transferred to the Navy. When the
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constructed of painted calico stretched on a lath framework. He was also a clever mechanic. While in the army he used to have his own car, undertaking all the maintenance and repair work himself. He always had a working lathe somewhere in his quarters.
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transported up to the front. Later he was charged with the extension of the tramway lines into the enemy's position and the bridging of a canal. All these tasks had to be carried out under constant shell fire.
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He was born in 1875 and educated at
Bedford School, where he showed an aptitude for craft work including the construction of small boats. He opted for a military career and in 1893 entered the
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wounded in the Somme offensive. He was mentioned in despatches twice in 1916 and once again in 1917, and received the
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in
January 1917. He was wounded in action on 2 September 1917 and died of his wounds two days later.
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The lady tasting tea: how statistics revolutionised science in the twentieth century
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171:(1875 – 4 September 1917) was an officer of the Royal Engineers who fought in the
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Brian "Broo" Surtees
Phillpotts was the second surviving son of
195:, and of Marian Hadfield Phillpotts. His sisters included
348:, Brigadier General H.O. Mance CMG DSO RE, published in
364:, Brigadier General H.O. Mance CMG DSO RE, as above.
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471:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
466:British military personnel killed in World War I
203:, captain of the England Ladies Hockey Team.
456:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
179:. He was killed in action in September 1917.
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352:(Bedford School Magazine), 10 November 1917.
300:Prominent Lady Hockey Players and Officials
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388:, General C.J. Blackader, September 1917.
376:, General C.J. Blackader, September 1917.
214:), from where he pursued a course at the
199:, a scholar of Scandinavian studies, and
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240:Brian "Broo" Phillpotts as a young man
461:British Army personnel of World War I
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216:Royal School of Military Engineering
481:19th-century British Army personnel
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208:Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
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476:Military personnel from Bedford
412:, Sergeant Frank H. Aincham RE.
400:, Sergeant Frank H. Aincham RE.
34:Lt Col Brian Surtees Phillpotts
320:. Holt paperbacks. p. 28.
197:Dame Bertha Surtees Phillpotts
191:, the reforming headmaster of
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226:Distinguished Service Order
177:Distinguished Service Order
158:Distinguished Service Order
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424:, Captain A.C. Sparkes RE.
306:, Dublin, 22 February 1930
201:Marjory Surtees Phillpotts
386:Letter to J.S. Phillpotts
374:Letter to J.S. Phillpotts
256:Exploits on the War Front
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451:Royal Engineers officers
316:Salsburg, David (2001).
212:Royal Corps of Engineers
189:James Surtees Phillpotts
166:Brian Surtees Phillpotts
22:Brian Surtees Phillpotts
337:’, 11 September 1917.
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210:(headquarters of the
116:Years of service
175:and was awarded the
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128:Lieutenant-Colonel
304:The Sporting Mail
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68:(aged 41–42)
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66:(1917-09-04)
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40:Nickname(s)
435:Categories
287:References
276:in 1916."
78:Allegiance
335:The Times
232:Character
221:Great War
183:Biography
119:1895–1917
73:, Belgium
56:, England
350:The Ouse
96:Service/
362:Tribute
346:Tribute
54:Bedford
154:Awards
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98:branch
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71:Ypres
134:Unit
124:Rank
61:Died
51:1875
48:Born
43:Broo
302:in
169:DSO
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