Lt. Ian Douglas joined the 2nd Battalion, 48th Highlanders in Toronto and is shown in a 1940 newspaper article as one of the 52 officers of the 2nd Battalion who were training for service in the Second World War. Once in England he quickly joined the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders in January 1943 in the New London-Horam area. In April, in preparation for the sailing to Sicily, Lts. Ian Douglas, Ken McLurg and Bob Handley were named for the rear party of 157 non-coms and men. For the sailing he was appointed a platoon commander in Charlie Company. In Sicily Douglas led one of two fighting patrols to determine what they would face on the attack to take Valguarnera. On 31 July getting into position to assault Regalbuto, ” Lt Fraser had traded platoon sites with Lt Ian Douglas, a battlefield swap which had a strange sequel, unlucky for Douglas.” “His position was so badly sited it had practically no field of fire.” While looking for a better location his  13 platoon was attacked and Lt Douglas was captured. Lt. Douglas later declared “he was in a German prison camp as a proxy for Lt. Fraser.”

After the war, Douglas, rejoined the 48th Highlanders in Toronto and as Major was OC of Support Company.