Cold War Royal Observer Corps (ROC) Officer's Beret Badge

Within gold thread bullion embroidered crowned laurel sprays, an applied gold coloured AA anodised aluminium Elizabethan Coast Watcher standing on a scroll inscribed “Forewarned is Forearmed”. Queen's crown. Sewn onto the colours of the organisation, a light blue felt backing. In very good condition and scarce.

It operated in the United Kingdom between 29 October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down (ROC headquarters staff at RAF Bentley Priory stood down on 31 March 1996). Composed mainly of civilian spare-time volunteers, ROC personnel wore a Royal Air Force (RAF) style uniform and latterly came under the administrative control of RAF Strike Command and the operational control of the Home Office. Civilian volunteers were trained and administered by a small cadre of professional full-time officers under the command of the Commandant Royal Observer Corps; latterly a serving RAF Air Commodore.

Comm DaMc

Code: 70421