Harald Hilarius-Kalkau

Harald Hilarius-Kalkau was born on 21 October 1852 at Rosengården near Ringsted as the son of Johan Frederik Hilarius-Kalkau (1809–1878), a proprietor, and Karen Margrethe Hansen (1816–1856).^[3] From 1862 he attended Sorø Academy, from which he graduated in 1871.

He became a second lieutenant in the infantry in 1874, a student in the second-oldest class of the Royal Danish Military Academy (Danish: Hærens Officersskole) in 1876, a first lieutenant in 1878, was adjutant at the 18th battalion in 1883–86.^[3]

On 6 February 1889, he was appointed captain and company commander at the 23rd Battalion in Copenhagen.^[3] He was the commander of the Army's Gymnastic School from 1892 to 1902, became lieutenant colonel in 1902, was the first commander of the 15th battalion in Copenhagen in 1902–03 and then commander of the 12th battalion in Fredericia from 1903 to 1912, where he finally retired.^[3][4]

The military conditions were favorable and Hilarius-Kalkau quickly was appointed commander of his battalion. On the horse rides and strolls on the rampart, in the Kastellet and the nearby forests, he could, as he put it, "leaf through nature's great picture book".^[3] He showed a strong interest in the work of his superiors and at times assisted in guiding junior officers, occasionally using a sarcastic tone. He was thus able to arouse the young officers' interest and desire for their work and gentlemanly behavior, where he himself was a distinguished role model.^[3]

Thanks to his long and distinguished military career, Hilarius-Kalkau had numerous awards bestowed on him by governments, organizations, and associations, such as the Order of the Dannebrog on 24 February 1896, Man of Dannebrog on 12 March 1902 and was a Knight of the Order of St. Olav.^[3]