As a first lieutenant with the Polish Independent Highland Brigade, for his service during the Norwegian Campaign of 1940 he was awarded the Virtuti Militari, he was also among the thirteen Poles awarded the Norwegian War Cross with Sword by king Haakon VII of Norway.

Utnicki was born 19 March 1912[1] in the town of Jedlnia near Radom, then in Russian-held part of Poland.

Utnicki received military training in mid-1930s and was promoted to the rank of Podporucznik (Second Lieutenant) at the end of 1935.

He was soon promoted to the rank of Porucznik (First Lieutenant)[1] and joined the Polish Independent Highland Brigade as the commanding officer of 1st Rifle Company, 1st Battalion.

[3] Together with his unit, Utnicki took part in the lengthy Battle of Narvik of 1940, capturing the Ankenesstrand peninsula.