Brian Surtees Phillpotts DSO (1875 – 4 September 1917) was an officer of the Royal Engineers who fought in the First World War and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

After leaving Chatham he specialised in submarine mining and was stationed successively at Plymouth, Bermuda, Halifax (Nova Scotia), Gravesend and Hong Kong.

He was a keen sailor and used to venture out in heavy seas in small homemade boats constructed of painted calico stretched on a lath framework.

[4] "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'.

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.

Within a fortnight Major Phillpotts made comfortable beds of timber and wire netting for everyone as well as cook houses and stables.

[8] 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.

"[9] "After repeated attacks had failed to capture Fricourt, and whilst a bombardment of the village was taking place, [Major Phillpotts] got out of our front line trench and waved his hat.

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!