Royal Observer Corps Medal The Royal Observer Corps Medal is a long service medal awarded in the United Kingdom to members of the Royal Observer Corps ( ROC ) relating to service between 1941 and December 1995 , when the ROC was stood down . The medal was initiated in 1950 by HM King George Vl . Service prior to 1941 . Prior to World War II , " Observer Corps " personnel were classed as " Special Constables " , retained by local constabularies , and qualified for the award of the Special Constable Long Service Medal following a period of twelve years continuous service . However , this qualification and award ceased in 1941 when RAF Fighter Command assumed sole responsibility for the ROC . The new medal . In 1950 HM the King , 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 to those having completed twelve years of continuous service . Each subsequent service period of twelve years was recognised by the award of a clasp depicting a " winged crown " . ( On ribbon bar s , a silver rosette was worn to represent the clasp ) . Full - time service on the part of ROC Officers counted for half the qualification period for part - time personnel ; therefore requiring twenty four years service to qualify for a medal or clasp , but with any previous part - time service counting in full . Description . Ribbon . The medal ribbon was a mix of pale blue , dark blue and silver vertical stripes ; 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 : , ( later editions bore + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D : ) , on the obverse . The reverse featured 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 recipient ' s rank , initials and surname were stamped into the medal ' s edge , for example LEADING OBSERVER E . M . BLASCRAIG . Although the medal was authorised in 1950 non were struck with the effigy of King george VI . The medal was suspended under an articulated brooch depicting the RAF eagle . Miniatures . Miniature ROC medals were licenced 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 UKWMO 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 . Disestablishment . The ROC was stood down in December 1995 and as such there are no ROC personnel in service . 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 . ROC medals bearing the head of George VI were struck but not issued .