Ron Levett's memories of his time in the British Liberation Army during World War II.

Ron Levett, born in Alfriston, East Sussex, enlisted in 1943 and joined the Royal Armoured Corps. After completing his training as a Driver Operator he was sent to Belgium to join the British Liberation Army, where he was posted to the Royal Scots Grays and then to the Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) signals troop. After the liberation of Germany he was based in Münster, where he met his German fiancée Ruth, then on to Lüneburg.

Now that the regiment had settled down to peacetime soldiering the Regimental Pipe Band came over from Edinburgh. They wore their dark blue uniforms, complete with kilts and a side cap. A Church Parade was held in the local St. John's Church in the town, and then the regiment marched back to barracks behind the band.

I must say I found it a very stirring sight, but I was a bit put out when I heard a local lady onlooker exclaim, 'Das ist kein Musik' meaning 'That's not music.'

The band members were mostly members of the Despatch Rider's platoon when not employed as bandsmen. A lot of the Despatch Riders also joined the local Army Gliding Club. I suppose both occupations had something in common, both being possibly dangerous.

The regiment now decided to form a mounted troop. A dozen white horses had been obtained locally and uniforms were sent out from Scotland. The troop wore blue riding breeches with a yellow stripe, a red tunic and a bearskin with a white cockade. They carried long lances, which had their points polished until they shone.

I saw them carry out a demonstration cavalry charge in a field near to the barracks and with the thunder of the horse's hoofs and the glitter of their equipment they must have presented to enemy of old with a terrifying sight on the battlefields of Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

All the 'horsy types' in the regiment were found 'cushy' jobs such as batman or storemen's so that they could spend as much time on the horses as possible. Since most of the rest of the regiment were tankmen, we took rather a dim view of the 'Cavalrymen.'   

Ron Levett, 2001