Description
Physical description
Single-breated open-collared blouse of grey/blue serge featuring a fly-front, pleated breast pockets with exposed buttons, epaulettes and button-tab waist closure. All buttons are of black plastic. To the upper sleeves are cloth shoulder titles with the text 'ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS' and '1' directly below, embroidered in white on a grey/blue field. Beneath these is a silhouette of an aircraft worked in red thread, to each arm.
History note
Although the threat of air attack had been real in the First World War, it was in 1924 that the Air Ministry considered developing systems to locate (with the intention to intercept) hostile aircraft. Experiments began by using Special Constables as 'spotters' and in 1925 the Observer Corps was formed, initially under Army control, but by 1929 under the Air Ministry. Its volunteers became fully meshed with the overall national air defence plan and worked closely with fighter and anti-aircraft artillery units by 1939.
Stood down on 12 May 1945, the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) was re-activated in January 1947, when the international scene was rapidly changing and it was believed that the Soviet possession of nuclear arms would pose a major potential threat. From 1957 Observers based in ROC bunkers and posts throughout the British Isles became more technically proficient, their main role to report on nuclear weapons strikes, locations of attacks and the after-effects. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the Royal Observer Corps was officially stood down in 1992.
Volunteers of the ROC were issued with a uniform, closely resembling those of the Royal Air Force but with their own special insignia and badges.
Inscription
Blouses Battledress Men's R.A.F.
22F 8406-69-127-0273
SIZE 18
Wm. Brownlee & Co, Ltd.
Contract No.
A/78/CLo/38265/DC68(2)