| Rank | Captain, Staff Captain, Lieutenant |
| Service # | A470259 |
| Unit # | 11th Canadian Army Tank Regiment |
| Resident | Chatham |
Born in 1921. The son of Dr. Harry S. Barlow and Mrs. Alice M. Barlow of 142 Victoria Ave., Chatham, ON.
Douglas enlisted as a Second Lieut. With the Kent Regt., 2nd Bn. In 1941. Appeared on the “Muster Roll” of the 2nd Bn., Kent Regiment as a Cpl. A470259. (MG), N.P.A.N. (date unknown). He was an under aged enlistment at this time.
In July of 1942, Lieut. Barlow was on a weekend leave to visit Mr. and Mrs. Waterhouse at Port Bruce, ON. CDN 6/07/42. On the 16th of July, Mrs. Hs. Barlow and Miss June Waterhouse were spending a few days with Lieut. Barlow in Barrie. CDN 16/7/42
He was promoted to Lieutenant when he went overseas in 1941, joining the Ontario Tanks (11th Canadian Tank Regt.) in England. Captain Barlow started his service at the battlefront in the Tank Corps in Italy.
He was home from training at Camp Borden, Ontario in March of 1942.
Lieut. Barlow was serving in Sicily in 1943 in the Paterno area securing the Gerbini airfield and in Italy where he was with the tank corps; fighting with the Canadian First Division, part of the Eighth British Army. It was reported in the CDN 7/10/43 he was confined to hospital with malaria for two weeks in Sicily until the 12th and well there met General McNaughton who was on a trip of inspection. He was flown to North Africa, for a physical checkup.
“This brave young Chatham officer was mentioned in Ross Munroe’s story of the Sicily campaign as brilliantly leading his platoon of tanks (the 11th Tank Regiment), against the German and Italians.” Prime Minister Winston Churchill was reported as saying, “When after the war is over a man is asked what he did, well enough to say ‘I marched with the Eighth Army’“. On 30 September. Lieut. Barlow was scheduled to re-join his tank regiment in Italy. It was believed he was not in the Salerno fighting . He was back with the Canadians marching with the Eighth Army.
The CDN 23/12/43(P) reported that three of the Barlow brothers, Douglas served with the 11th Canadian Tank Regt., Sgt. Murray was with 429th Squadron RCAF and Keith was overseas with Number 3 Canadian Infantry reserve unit.
He was wounded in Italy and invalided to England where his wound was treated and he was pronounced fit for duty again. The CDN reported that Lieut. Barlow had been promoted to the general staff of the Canadian Army in Italy. CDN 18/02/44.
In June of 1944 he was serving in France, Belgium, Holland and then Germany.
In December of 1944, Dr. and Mrs. Barlow received word that Lieut. Douglas Barlow was reported a casualty. He was reported to have been wounded above the left eyebrow but remained in duty, as he was only slightly injured. He was not a causality after all. It had been reported by CDC broadcaster, Ross Munroe, that the fine work that Lieut. Barlow had done some “splendid work” in the Sicily campaign.
In April of 1945, he was promoted to Staff Captain with the A.R.C.O. 5th Armoured Division. His duties were between the HQ and the front lines near Antwerp and Ghent. He was slightly wounded here as well. His latest wounding occurred just four days after his brother Cpl. Keith Barlow was KIA in Italy with the RCR’s.
Douglas was reported to arrive from overseas duty from the “Duchess of Richmond”, expected at Quebec City 19 August, 1945. CDN 17/8/45. Douglas was discharged 13 November, 1945. The war had ended. At the close of the war, he was a staff officer of the General headquarters in Europe. CDN 21/08/45 Captain Barlow was the youngest staff Captain in the Canadian Army.
Captain Douglas Summers Barlow returned from three years of service overseas and settled right into a new life. He married Corporal June Elizabeth Waterhouse, formerly with the RCAF(WD). Their wedding took place at 15:00 hrs. at St. Andrews United Church in Chatham.
The couple honeymooned on the French River.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | CDN 17/08/45. CDN 14/09/45,, CFF-FD44, I0DE(P), MCS43, CCI-RH, KCFA (19/07/45), LM-LP, DMS, 2KRMR |
| Birthplace | Toronto |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Marital Status | Single |
| When Enlisted | July 1941 |
| Next of Kin | Mother- Mrs. Alice Barlow |
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