Royal Observer Corps Medal

The Royal Observer Corps Medal was instituted in 1950 by King George VI for long service by members of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) in the United Kingdom. It was awarded until December 1995, when the ROC was stood down.

Service prior to 1939

Prior to World War II, ''Observer Corps'' personnel were classed as '' Special Constables'', retained by local constabularies, and qualifying for the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal following nine years continuous service. This qualification ceased in August 1939 when RAF Fighter Command assumed sole responsibility for the ROC. However, service as a Special Constable on observer duties prior to August 1939 counted towards the ROC Medal, provided it had not already been reflected in an award of the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.Philip Wittingham. ''The Royal Observer Corps: An Analysis of the Long Service Medal and other awards.'' Orders & Medals Research Society Journal, Vol 50 No 1, pages 33-35, March 2011.

The new medal

In 1950 King George VI, as Air Commodore in Chief of the ROC, granted permission for the award of the Royal Observer Corps Medal in recognition of long service. For part-time personnel, the medal was awarded for twelve years continuous service. Each subsequent period of twelve years service was recognised by the award of a clasp depicting a ''winged crown''. On ribbon bars, a silver rosette was worn to represent each clasp. Peace time service by full-time salaried ROC Officers counted for half the qualification period for part-time personnel, therefore requiring up to twenty four years service to qualify for a medal or clasp, but with any previous war or part-time service counting in full.

Description

Ribbon

The medal ribbon is pale blue, with a silver central stripe, edged in dark blue; representing the pale blue of the daytime sky, with a searchlight beam in a night sky at its centre. The colours of the ribbon were to be repeated in the ROC stable belt, with the addition of two outer stripes of dark blue. The medal ribbon's colour sequence is reversed in the ROC ''regimental'' tie.

Medal

The medal was die struck in cupronickel metal featuring the laureated head of Elizabeth II. Post-1953 medals featured the legend ''+ELIZABETH II DEI GRA:BRITT:OMN:REGINA F:D:'', (''+ELIZABETH·II·DEI·GRATIA·REGINA·F:D:'' from the mid 1950s), on the obverse. The reverse features the coast-watcher figure from the ROC badge, depicted against a backdrop of coastal warning beacons, with the motto ''FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED'' on a scroll beneath the figure, together with the words ''ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS MEDAL'' around the circumference. The medal was suspended under an articulated bar depicting the RAF eagle. Although the medal was authorised in 1950, the first award was only made in 1953, and none were struck with the effigy of King George VI.

The medal was awarded named, with the recipient's rank, initials and surname stamped on the medal's edge, for example ''OBSERVER L.F. COLLINGS''.

Miniature ROC Medals were licensed and worn at formal ''Black Tie'' events where the invitation indicates such are permitted.

Unusual awards

In July 1961 the Commandant ROC Air Commodore Wight-Boycott presented a Royal Observer Corps Medal to the Battle of Britain Class locomotive no.34050 ''Royal Observer Corps'', which had commenced service with the Southern Railway company in December 1946; the ceremony taking place at Waterloo station. The medal was mounted in a glass fronted cabinet in the driver's cab and the locomotive's side was repainted with a representation of the medal and its ribbon. These were displayed until the engine was retired from service and scrapped in the late 1960s. However, the original nameplate and front badge were recovered and displayed in the entrance hall of RAF Bentley Priory, (HQ ROC), until 1996 when they were transferred to the RAF Museum, Hendon.

The only occasion where an ROC Medal was awarded to a former member of the ROC was when UK Warning and Monitoring Organisation Sector Controller Kenneth Rodley was awarded the ROC Medal after twenty four years full-time service. Rodley commenced his ROC service as Group Training Officer with 20 Group (York) in February 1958 and was later seconded to the Home Office, in 1971. It had been realised that, due to an administrative error, Rodley's secondment had never officially converted to that of a full civil service transfer, and that he had therefore technically remained a member of the ROC. The Medal was awarded to him by Air Commodore George Black at a surprise ceremony in 1984 at RAF Scampton. Rodley attempted to make an acceptance speech but was overcome by emotion and took his seat to a standing ovation by those present.

Two recipients have received the ROC Medal with three clasps, representing 48 years of service including earlier service as Special Constables on observer duties.

Disestablishment

The ROC was stood down in December 1995 and as such there are no ROC personnel in service.Royal Observer Corps Association: Chronological history
/ref> However, should the ROC ever be reactivated the ROC medal remains extant and awards could recommence at that time.

ROC Medals are much sought after by collectors of militaria, and examples reaching several hundred pounds have been recorded at auction.

References

{{Efficiency and long service decorations and medals

Civil awards and decorations of the United Kingdom
Royal Observer Corps
1950 establishments in the United Kingdom
Awards established in 1950
Long service medals
Long and Meritorious Service Medals of Britain and the Commonwealth