Liberation of towns and villages still brought enthusiastic civilians on to the streets with pleasing results. Gunner John Mercer noted the comments of a recently liberated civilian, who stated: When the Germans were here and we encountered them on the pavement we had to get out of the way always. But with your soldiers it is they who move out of the way and get into the road. This may seem trivial to you, but to me it is a mark of a civilised nation.
