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 and married Ruth after which he returned to England.

Harrogate was a very pleasant town to be stationed in. It was late spring and all the trees were coming into full leaf. In the centre of the town was a covered market selling fruit and vegetables, clothing and household goods. There were a number of cinemas in the town, which Ruth and I frequented on our evenings out.

She put a joint of lamb in the oven on one occasion and off we went shopping. By the time we returned the lamb was well done indeed. We opened a tin of baked beans to go with the other vegetables and it tasted delicious.

On Part 2 Orders I spotted an Army Council Instruction (ACI) that said that personnel who were within one year of finishing their service and could find a civilian firm to take them on, could take one month's paid leave to learn a trade.

I had a look round Harrogate and soon found a radio shop called Hartley's who were willing to take me on for this time. They had a radio workshop, a sales department and they carried out Public Address work locally. I learnt quite a lot in their workshops and helped out with the loudspeaker equipment at the Harrogate Golf Tournament, all of which was very enjoyable.

All I had to do with the Army was to call at the barracks once a week to collect my pay. At the end of the month I saw another ACI, which allowed people who had found a civilian firm, could apply for another month, which I promptly did.

Mr. Hartley said that I was useful enough for him to pay me a small wage, which was very welcome. At the end of two months I think I had learnt enough to claim to be a radio mechanic when I was demobbed.

I got my mate in the Orderly Room to put my civilian trade down on my release papers as 'Radio Mechanic.' Anything on paper carries more weight than word of mouth. I went back to the Army for two more weeks, just long enough to hand over to my successor.

Thus I finished my service, for the time being, with the British Army.