Private Benjamin Edward Utting was born in Barking, East London, England, on December 19, 1894, to parents John Patterson Newby Utting and Sarah Maria (née Wanstall) Utting. He was the fourth of five children, with siblings Christiana, Sarah, John, and Miriam. Immigrating to Canada several years prior to the outbreak of WWI, Utting took up farming in New Norway, Alberta.

Enlisting with the 223rd Battalion in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on December 23, 1916, Utting shipped for England on board the SS Justicia the following May. After several months spent training in England, he was sent to join the 78th Battalion in France in November of 1917.

Utting was killed in action on August 11, 1918. His body was never recovered. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Content notes:
Letters were written by Benjamin Utting to his sister Chrissie Utting who was working in England at the Upney Hospital in Barking, Essex (the hospital served as a principal casualty hospital under the wartime Emergency Hospital Service scheme for London).

External links:
Pte. Benjamin Utting’s service record (Serv/Reg# 294884) can be viewed/downloaded in pdf format through Library and Archives Canada.
Burial information is available at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
A memorial page honouring Utting can be visited online at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.