About the product

Royal Observer Corps Observer Officer

Royal Observer Corps Medal, EIIR, Observer Officer Frederick Wilkinson Barker, 21 Group, awarded in 1960. Rare to an Officer.

Out of stock

Origin: United Kingdom
Good Very Fine

Description

Royal Observer Corps Medal, EIIR, Observer Officer Frederick Wilkinson Barker, 21 Group, awarded in 1960. Rare to an Officer.

On old silk ribbon, Officially engraved: “Observer Officer F. W. Barker”

At the time of award during 1960, 21 Group was located in Lancaster, later Preston.

Approximately 14318 Observer Corps medals have been awarded through the lifetime of the Corps, only 489 of them to the rank of Observer Officer and 62 to Women Observer Officers.

Only around 817 recipients of Officer Rank, from Observer Officer upwards would earn the medal.

An Observer Officer in the R.O.C. was the equivalent to a Flying Officer in the RAF, it was the lowest rank for a Spare Time Officer, usually being appointed as a Crew, NRC or Group Officer. As uniformed Civilians, the rank of Officer within the ROC was held under Royal Warrant as in the case of RAF Warrants.

Frederick Wilkinson Barker, was born on 18th October 1917, in Backbarrow, Lancashire, he died in Lancashire during 2004 at the age of 87.

Likely to have also seen service during WW2, he was only 22 when the War began.