Description
Royal Observer Corps Medal, EIIR, 1st Type, Observer Lieutenant R.E.G. Claydon, a rare example to a full time employed & high rank in the Observer Corps.
Officially engraved: “Observer Lieutenant R.E.G. Claydon”
Roy Edward George Claydon was awarded this medal during 1948 for his service with 18 Group, based out of Colchester “Hatfield Peverel Observer Corps”, an early member of the Observer Corps, already being a “Head Observer” before the war in 1939. The Team “Head Observer” is a Chief Observer who commands a Crew.
Further information on his circa 1959 local “Bunker” can be read here including a video.
https://www.janetgyford.com/places/the-observer-ps-cold-war-bunker/
An interesting and unusual medal, he technically qualified for it during 1948, long before the medal existed, but received the EIIR 1st Type example, as it was only issued from circa February 1953, at the time King George VI was dead, but Queen Elizabeth had yet to be crowned, so could not be put on the first batch of medals, by the time they got round to his medal, a few months later she was crowned, and her effigy was then used for his medal.
This medal awarded about 14318 times during the lifetime of the medal from 1953 to 1996, out of these medals this medal is one of about 2538 First Type “Brit Omn” examples awarded between 1953 and 1955.
Out of all these examples, only 181 examples were issued to the rank of “Observer Lieutenant”.
In total only 266 medals were issued to “Full Time” Officer Ranks in the Corps, to Observer Lieut and upwards.
As the medal is named with the rank of the recipient when earned, many rose to higher ranks after the award of the medal from long service but had already received the medal.
Roy was born on 16th August 1911 in Chelmsford, Essex, being baptised in Ashdon
He lived most of his life in Essex.
He later married Iris Dorothy Smith at Braintree in July 1939 just before the war.
The marriage announcement noting that “About 40 presents included a coffee table from the personnel of the Hatfield Peverel Observer Corps, of which the Bride Groom is Sergeant in Charge.”
The 1939 Census records him as working as a Motor and Electrical Engineer, also noting that he was as serving member of the Observer Corps being a “Head Observer”.
By 1944, during the announcement of the birth of his daughter, he was recorded as “Observer Officer”.
He qualified for the medal with the rank of Observer Lieutenant in 1948.
He is also recorded as being active with local Rifle Shooting competitions.
Roy died on 9th May 1968 in Witham, Essex.
