About the product

Observer Medal Lieutenant

Observer Corps Medal, for 12 years long service, Observer Lieutenant G. E. Rudge. Very rare to an early officer of the Royal Observer Corps. A rare 1st Type medal to an Officer

Out of stock

Origin: United Kingdom
Nearly Extremely Fine

Description

Observer Corps Medal, for 12 years long service, Observer Lieutenant G. E. Rudge. Very rare to an early officer of the Royal Observer Corps.

 

George Edward Rudge was awarded this medal in 1953, for service with 18 Group, based in Colchester, Essex since 1936 until 1953.

 

As this is a Senior rank, out of 14318 medals issued, only 184 were to Observer Lieutenants including men and women’s ranks.

 

Also only 2538 medals were issued as the 1st Type leading up to 1955.
In named card box of issue.

 

George Edward Rudge was born on 3rd November 1909.

 

In 1939 he was living at Winandemend Mersea Road, Berechurch, Colchester, with his wife Winifred E. Rudge, he worked as a Dental Mechanic before the war.

 

He was likely excluded from service at the Front during WW2 due to his technical job and was probably still working whilst an Observer Corps Officer, perhaps a member of the Royal Army Dental Corps who employed many Dental Mechanics in the workshops.

 

He died during 1991 in Colchester, Essex

 

His rare Officer’s Badges are offered in the next 2 lots, J6799, J6800.

 

An article in the Essex Newsman on the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Observer Corps for 18 Group:

 

“OBSERVER CORPS CELEBRATES

 

Ending their Silver Jubilee celebrations, officers and men of the Royal Observer Corps which covers an area from Billericay and Good Easter to across the Suffolk Border, held a dinner in Colchester on Saturday.

 

Among those also attending were the Conservative M.P. for Colchester, Mr C.J.M. Alport, the Chief Constable, Capt F.R.J. Peel, and the Southern Area Training Officer, Observer-Lieutenant C.H. Aggett.

 

Toasting the Corps, Wing Commander J. H. T. Pickering, one of the Services’ representatives present, said the public did not realise the magnitude of the debt it owed to the observers.”