Douglas Shelton Catlin was the son of Richard John and Mabel Catlin and husband of Frances Betty Catlin, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex.He was commissioned into a Territorial Battalion of The Essex Regiment on 24 August 1939, shortly before the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, and later transferred to The Parachute Regiment on 1 September 1943.

Douglas qualified as a military parachutist on Course 84 which ran at RAF Ringway from 20 September to 1 October 1943 and subsequently served with A Company 9th (Essex) Parachute Battalion.

The Battalion parachuted into Normandy in advance of the main beach landings, and Douglas was killed as the unit attacked the Merville Battery which threatened the main landings.

Lt Douglas Catlin died on 6 June 1944, aged 28 years, and is now buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Normandy.