Description
Observer Corps Medal, EIIR, Observer Officer Harry Goodyear, 15 Group Lincoln, awarded in 1958.
Officially engraved: “Observer Officer H. Goodyear”
SOld with the originalc ard box of issue for the medal and wax medal packet.
Rare to an Observer Officer, only 438 medal issued to this rank (with 62 to the Women’s Equivalent), out of over 14,000 medals.
An Observer Officer was the equivalent of a Flying Officer in the RAF.
Harry Goodyear was a local man from Lincoln born on 29th November 1903 in Ludford, Lincs, being baptised there on 24th Jan 1904.
The son of Thomas and Clara.
As of 1921, young Harry was beginning his career as an “Electrical Engineer” for Elc Engr G A Howard aged 17.
His father worked as a Private Chauffeur for Francis Hayhurst, Inspector of the Board of Agriculture.
Whilst his mother was on Home Duties and a Store Keeper.
As of 1939 with the war on the way, he was now a “Radio and Electrical Engineer” whilst also being a part time “Deputy Controller Observer Corps.”
At this time the Observer Corps was relatively small and was yet to become gain “Royal” Status which came in 1941.
The Lincolnshire Chronicle recalls him numerous times in his role as an Observer Officer of the ROC, he is mentioned many times in the local newspapers especially as he was a senior member of the ROC in the area and is mentioned in the Weekly Orders for the local Station at Waddington.
On 15th May 1948 in regards to an articles on the previously published History of the ROC Forewarned is Forearmed they add:
“ ‘He declares that The Royal Observer Corps must therefore be kept together its glorious traditions unimpaired.’
In fulfilment of this call the Lincoln Group is developing its post war organisations steadily but recruits are urgently needed for the Operations Room where under Observer Officers Gothorp and GOODYEAR they have recently joined in RAF exercises.
Ex-Observers and others interested were invited to visit the operations room at Waddington last Sunday when the first full day ‘Battle Training’ of the RAF in this area was recorded on the Lincoln plotting tables.”
The Lincolnshire Chronicle 5th April 1947 notes the local orders for the various volunteers organisations:
“ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS
No 11 GROUP, HQ RAF STATION WADDINGTON
Orders for the week commencing Sunday, 6th April, by Observer Commander E.W. Fitton, Group Commandant.
Duty Officer, Observer H. Goodyear.
Tuesday – Crew 1 and 2, Maidstone Flight at St Martin’s Hall, 19:30 Hrs.
W.S. Jackson, Observer Lieutenant, Deputy Group Commandant.”
