Personal Information

HQ 10 GRN - 2nd Army

Sidney Barlow served in HQ 10 Garrison (formed 24th April 1944 - disbanded April 1946) which sailed on-board HMS "URSA" on D-Day. HQ 10 Garrison was involved in discussions with 47 and 48 RM Commando during the weeks before D-Day in their assembly area - Suffolk/Norfolk, East Anglia - also with 4 & 6 Army Commando. During this period they were joined by a liaison team of the US Army - Major Milton Puller, Lt. Clive W. Parkman, Sgt. G. Osborne and Cpl. John T. Mattes with their "Peep" . (a liaison jeep with an angle iron attached to the front bumper) Major Puller and Lt. Parkman sailed from Portsmouth with his CO Col. C. Montague and Recce party H and Naval Party 1502 under the command of Commander Cowley-Thomas, and 47 RM Commando to rendezvous with Headquarters Ship HMS Bulolo. His transport section required a beach landing and with his drivers and John T. Mattes of Birmingham, Alabama, USA, left Tilbury, London, on the 5th June on a nine thousand ton Liberty Ship the "Ocean Vision" to join a convoy to "Gold" and at 6.30pm on the 7th of June landed at Arromanches proceeding west to follow 47 RM Commando into the port of Port-en-Bessin overland. After its liberation HQ 10 GRN took control of the port and prepare it for PLUTO. He also was there for the liberation of Brussels on the 3rd of September 1944, Operation Market Garden on the 17th of September 1944, Military Control of Nijmegen September 1944 to December 1944, into Germany March 1945 and the liberation of Bergen Belsen concentration camp on the 17th of April 1945. Sidney was with HQ 10 Garrison at Luneburg Heath on the 4th of May 1945 where the surrender of the Germans was signed in Montgomery Headquarters. And finally Military and Civil Control of Hamburg May 1945 onwards. He left for civilian life on 23rd April 1946.