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Ron Levett, born in Alfriston, East Sussex, enlisted in 1943, and whilst posted to the British Liberation Army, took part in the liberation of Germany. He then returned to England, working in electronics and developing an interest in the new entertainment of the time - television.
In 1951 the Army was short of manpower and the government decided to form the Army Emergency Reserve (AER). Volunteers would be required to serve for five years, completing a two-week camp once a year. I went into the Recruiting Office in Brighton and signed up to join the Royal Signals as a Radio Mechanic.
About a week later I had a letter from the Commanding Officer of London District Signal Regt, asking me if I would be prepared to join the Regt. with my old rank of Corporal. I agreed and was issued with my stripes. I sewed them on the uniform with which I had been issued.
The first camp was held at the barracks just outside Chester. I travelled up by train and was met at the station by a 3-ton truck, along with a number of other men who had travelled up on the same train. I soon found that most of the rank and file were ex-national service men who did not agree at all with serving in the AER.
I met my new OC, a Major who was in charge of the service section of the Regt. There were a couple of sergeants, one of whom was in charge of the teleprinter service section and the other who was in charge of telephone linemen.
When I met the C.O, who was a commissioner in the Metropolitan Police, he told me that he thought I should be promoted at the end of the first camp.
The Regt. was short of people with driving licenses, so both the Telemech Sgts. and I were issued with Landrover's. At every camp after the first year I used to leave my kit at the railway station in Chester, catch the bus up to the camp, draw my Landrover then drive back to town and collect my kit and any personnel who had arrived in the meantime.
The barracks were situated on the England/Welsh border. On Sundays all the Welsh pubs were shut. Unfortunately the Sgt's Mess was just in Wales so drinks could not be served on a Sunday. After I was promoted I always borrowed a Corporal's jacket on Sundays.
Our first year's exercise was held in the grounds of Hawarden Castle, the ancestral home of Lloyd George's family. This was situated just over the Welsh border from Chester.
The grounds were beautiful green sweeps of grass intermingled with very old trees. We practised camouflaging our vehicles and hiding traces of occupation.
The linesmen learnt their trade of running out telephone lines, being careful in places where the cable crossed opening such as gateways. Our Radio trucks, Bedford QL, fitted with WS No.12, a high-powered transmitter using 813 valves. These were about ten inches high and carried 1000 volts on their anodes.
When the operator was on the roof of the vehicle fitting the aerial rods, I made it a rule that an NCO should be by the transmitter to ensure that it was not switched on. The aerial current could kill!
The Radio truck was fitted with a petrol driven 230V alternator at its rear corner. This had it's own petrol filler cap and radiator cap. Although these were clearly marked, I caught a young Signalman about to fill the radiator with petrol. I shudder to think what would have ensued if I had not spotted him.
It was quite a change to be under canvas again. Fortunately the weather that first summer was excellent, dry and sunny with nights not too cold. Our LAD REME detachment were also AER members, on a two week camp, so that any repairs needed could be carried out without too much paperwork.
My friend the Telemech Sgt. was driving behind a 3-Ton truck in his Landrover when the truck stopped suddenly. Before he could stop, his bonnet was under the rear of the truck as it rocked forward on its springs. When the rear of the truck came down again it squashed the bonnet of the Landrover.
The repair was carried out without any red tape. We had a saying in the AER about any damage - 'Elizabeth will pay!'
I had an interview with the CO, where he offered me promotion to Sergeant. I accepted and sewed on my tapes at the camp.
Ron Levett, 2001
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