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Roll Call Colonel Hilaro Nelson Barlow, OBE – September 19th 1944

Colonel Hilaro Nelson Barlow OBE served as the commanding officer of 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion from its formation in 1942 (transferring from the Somerset Light Infantry) until 1944 when he was promoted  to Second-in-Command of 1st Airlanding Brigade.

He took part in Operation Market Garden at Arnhem, and went missing on 19th Sept 1944 when moving between Allied positions. He was subsequently recorded as 'Killed In Action' and later reports suggested he was mortally wounded by a probable direct hit of a mortar shell. His body was never positively identified.
 
His name is commemorated on the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery Memorial, Holland. 

Profile photo by kind permission of Stefanie Buell

Listed Operations

17/09/1944 – 25/09/1944 Arnhem (Operation Market Garden)

Airborne Forces service history

1926-1929 2nd Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, (Second Lieutenant)
1929-1934 2nd Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, (Lieutenant)
1934-1937 Adjutant, 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, (Major)
1937-1938 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, (Captain)
1938-1939 Instructor, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, (Captain)
1940-1942 Acting, (Major)
1942-1944 Commanding Officer (CO), 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion, (Lieutenant-Colonel)
1944 Second In Command (2-i-c), 1st Airlanding Brigade, (Colonel)