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Page Five
The ROC Banner

161. The Royal Observer Corps Banner is lodged at Headquarters, Royal Observer Corps. It is paraded, on special occasions with Royal Observer Corps guards of honour and displayed at suitable area and group functions as directed by the Commandant.

162. In January 1968 the Government decided that major cuts in expenditure on Home Defence was necessary. This resulted in the disbandment of the Auxiliary Fire Service, the Civil Defence Corps and some elements of the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve. The ROC and the Women's Royal Voluntary Service were retained, the Corps because of its role within the UKWMO and the WRVS because of its very considerable and notable peace-time service. The supporting reasons for the retention of the Corps were that capital costs had largely been met and its techniques were more complex than in the other voluntary organisations. Substantial economies were called for, which resulted in the closure of 686 posts, the re-organisation of group territories to allow the closure of Watford and Leeds Group Headquarters and the reduction of the Truro and Oban Group Headquarters to little more than communications centres parented operationally by Exeter and Inverness Groups respectively. The establishment of the Corps was cut from 25,000 to 12,500.

163. On 28 June 1968 Air Commodore Greswell retired and was succeeded by Air Commodore D F Rixson OBE DFC AFC. The following years saw the completion of the telegraph transmission system and the re-organisation of the Home Departments' specialist teams at groups and sectors. This period was also marked by efforts to renew links with the Royal Air Force, which had become less strong in recent years.

164. In January 1971 Air Commodore E B Sismore DSO DFC AFC was appointed Commandant on the retirement of Air Commodore Rixson. During the years 1971 to 1973 the Commandant visited several similar organisations overseas and a particularly close association was formed with the Royal Danish Air Force Home Guard (Ground Observer Corps) - a situation which continues to this day.

165 In May 1973 Air Commodore R K Orrock DFC succeeded Air Commodore Sismore as Commandant. Later in the year No 11 Group, Truro and No 27 Group, Oban were disbanded and posts within these groups were transferred to No 10 Group, Exeter and No 30 Group, Inverness respectively.

166. 1975 marked the Golden Jubilee of the Corps which was celebrated by groups throughout the country in a variety of ways. On 31 October the celebrations culminated in a commemorative dinner held at the Officers Mess, RAF High Wycombe in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

167. In November 1976 Air Commodore Orrock retired and was succeeded by Air Commodore M H Miller CBE AFC.

168. 1976 saw a number of developments in procedures and was a period of consolidation. As usual the Corps took part in exercises and training, progressing steadily to greater efficiency. In October No 6 Group, Norwich and No 15 Group Lincoln, undertook a trial to report low flying aircraft to Royal Air Force defence systems. The challenge was eagerly accepted and the outcome most successful. This trial was extended and continued the following year.

169. In 1977 the Corps celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen's Accession. To mark the occasion it was decided to offer a distinctive gift to Her Majesty in the form of a silver model of the Elizabethan beacon lighter who forms the centre-piece of the ROC badge. On 4 February the model was displayed at a Silver Jubilee dinner held at RAF Bentley Priory at which representative officers of the whole Corps were present.

170. In April 1977 Air Commodore J F G Howe AFC was appointed Commandant.

171. Many groups took part in local Jublilee celebrations and events and every advantage was taken to publicise the works of the Corps. On 30 June 1977 an ROC contingent took part in the Royal Review of Reserve and Cadet Forces at Wembley Stadium. On 29 July 1977 the Corps was represented in the indoor exhibition at the Royal Review of the Royal Air Force at RAF Finningley.