NATIONAL
ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS ASSOCIATION
ROCA Heritage
ROCA Heritage is the official National Heritage Group of the Royal Observer Corps Association. Initiated in early 2011, the Group aims to promote the heritage of the Royal Observer Corps and the Royal Observer Corps Association. The Heritage Officer of the group is custodian of the Association's official national archive which consists of documents, photos and artefacts relating to the Royal Observer Corps and encompassing the history of the ROC from its formation in 1925 until final stand-down in 1995. The archive when formally set up, aims to complement the Royal Observer Corps Historic Collection that is held at the Newhaven Fort Museum, East Sussex as well as the many other smaller archives relating to the ROC in museums and collections throughout the United Kingdom.
The Heritage of the Corps
The Royal Observer Corps (ROC) being formed in 1925 gained a valuable role in being the “Eyes and Ears” of the Royal Air Force. Later during the Cold War under the control of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation (UKWMO) the ROC provided key monitoring, recording and appraisal of nuclear fallout if a nuclear attack had occurred in the United Kingdom.
The ROC was a ‘grassroots’ organisation which had a national coverage; the operations of the observation posts during World War 2 and the underground monitoring posts during the Cold War operated at the local level, but through effective national communication and co-ordination formed a bigger and wider organisation. The role played by the ROC during World War 2; especially with respect to the “Battle of Britain”; as the “Eyes and Ears” of the Royal Air Force, as well as during the later Cold War period (1946 - 1991) has been recorded within a vast wealth of historical documents, photographs, letters, and items of equipment which have been either;
The ROC was a ‘grassroots’ organisation which had a national coverage; the operations of the observation posts during World War 2 and the underground monitoring posts during the Cold War operated at the local level, but through effective national communication and co-ordination formed a bigger and wider organisation. The role played by the ROC during World War 2; especially with respect to the “Battle of Britain”; as the “Eyes and Ears” of the Royal Air Force, as well as during the later Cold War period (1946 - 1991) has been recorded within a vast wealth of historical documents, photographs, letters, and items of equipment which have been either;
- Created and collected by ROCA.
- Donated from former serving members of the ROC
- Left to the Association in peoples wills.
- Collected by other individuals, groups or museums.
With the stand-down of the main body of ROC members in 1991 and the final stand-down of members from Nuclear Reporting Cells in 1995, it was not until 1999 that the ROCA constitution recognised the need for the heritage of the ROC to be recognised. By 2010, the need to maintain an effective archival policy relating to the preservation and promotion of the ROC at both national and group levels was considered.
The National ROCA Committee is keen to formulate and implement a common strategy which articulates aspirations and identifies priorities and problems. By achieving good working relationships between key individuals, groups and museums it will become easier to work constructively with and complement the collections of ROC related archives as well as achieving a higher regional / national profile. This in turn should help all those who would be interested in our ROC Heritage and therefore important that the Heritage of the Corps is effectively maintained for future generations.
The National ROCA Committee is keen to formulate and implement a common strategy which articulates aspirations and identifies priorities and problems. By achieving good working relationships between key individuals, groups and museums it will become easier to work constructively with and complement the collections of ROC related archives as well as achieving a higher regional / national profile. This in turn should help all those who would be interested in our ROC Heritage and therefore important that the Heritage of the Corps is effectively maintained for future generations.
Donate to Help Our Task
The ability for ROCA Heritage to undertake this task is down to the voluntary assistance and help of the ROCA Heritage team and its supporting members. Much of this is funded through individual donations to cover costs for archiving facilities and to secure the acquisition of related items where necessary. ROCA Heritage therefore welcomes any donations however little in order to undertake this task, in order to preserve the heritage of the Corps.
If you feel that you would like to donate any items relating to the 'Heritage of the Royal Observer Corps' then please send a message through to our team using the contacts page.
The Heritage also accept monetary donations which is used to fund items to assist in the ongoing archiving of equipment, documents and images; as well as to provide further Heritage outreach to benefit schools and communities.
Monetary donations can be made through PayPal by clicking on the 'DONATE' button below;
If you feel that you would like to donate any items relating to the 'Heritage of the Royal Observer Corps' then please send a message through to our team using the contacts page.
The Heritage also accept monetary donations which is used to fund items to assist in the ongoing archiving of equipment, documents and images; as well as to provide further Heritage outreach to benefit schools and communities.
Monetary donations can be made through PayPal by clicking on the 'DONATE' button below;
Related Links
This website aims to focus on the Heritage of the Corps. For further information relating to the Association and to member pages and newsletters then please check out the main Royal Observer Corps Association website which may be found at the link below.
For further information relating to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund which is the organisation that exists to provide assistance and relief to those former members of the Royal Air Force and Royal Observer Corps and their dependants who are in need, hardship or distress then please checkout the RAFBF website at the link below.
IMPORTANT NOTE - ROC Memorabilia & Items of Heritage
Following the recent conviction of a person for theft of ROC related items; the heritage team would like to advise anyone wishing to purchase items relating to the ROC to be aware of rogue dealers who will sell items at great profit on auction sites or through internet forums. Those wishing to purchase ROC related items, especially instruments, should first check their provenance to ensure they have not been stolen to avoid being involved with litigation in the future.
Neither the National Association nor Heritage Team have a mandate to sell items (except on exceptional circumstances i.e. numerous duplicates) and neither provides funding for the restoration of monitoring posts, individual displays or museums relating to the ROC. Items in the National Archive may occasionally be loaned on a short term basis where such item are deemed to be of educational interest. This is determined by availability and which will be appraised prior to loans being made by the Heritage Team.
Should anyone have ROC related items looking for a good home, the National Heritage Team will be delighted to receive items for the National Archive so that they may be used effectively for educational and research purposes for all to benefit.
Following the recent conviction of a person for theft of ROC related items; the heritage team would like to advise anyone wishing to purchase items relating to the ROC to be aware of rogue dealers who will sell items at great profit on auction sites or through internet forums. Those wishing to purchase ROC related items, especially instruments, should first check their provenance to ensure they have not been stolen to avoid being involved with litigation in the future.
Neither the National Association nor Heritage Team have a mandate to sell items (except on exceptional circumstances i.e. numerous duplicates) and neither provides funding for the restoration of monitoring posts, individual displays or museums relating to the ROC. Items in the National Archive may occasionally be loaned on a short term basis where such item are deemed to be of educational interest. This is determined by availability and which will be appraised prior to loans being made by the Heritage Team.
Should anyone have ROC related items looking for a good home, the National Heritage Team will be delighted to receive items for the National Archive so that they may be used effectively for educational and research purposes for all to benefit.
COPYRIGHT
Image Copyright: ROC (KC & QC) Badge used under permission of MOD / DIPR and are not to be reproduced without permission.
Text Copyright: All information used within this site is copyright and must not be copied or used without the written permission of the Royal Observer Corps Association (Heritage). Images are copyright of ROCA National Archive unless otherwise stated.
Website Copyright: (c) 2011 - 2024: ROCA Heritage Team - Part of the National ROC Association
Text Copyright: All information used within this site is copyright and must not be copied or used without the written permission of the Royal Observer Corps Association (Heritage). Images are copyright of ROCA National Archive unless otherwise stated.
Website Copyright: (c) 2011 - 2024: ROCA Heritage Team - Part of the National ROC Association
DISCLAIMER
While every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information provided on this site is accurate, no guarantees for the accuracy of information are made. ROCA Heritage website and material relating to information, products and services (or to third party information, products and services), is provided ‘as is’. It is provided without any representation or endorsement made and without warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy. If errors exist within these webpages then please notify the ROCA heritage team via the eMail contact form within the contents page.
ROCA Heritage does not accept any responsibility for any loss, disruption or damage to your data or your computer system which may occur whilst using material derived from this website. ROCA Heritage does not warrant that the functions contained in the material in this site will be uninterrupted or error free. Also, ROCA Heritage does not warrant that defects will be corrected, or that this site or the server that makes it available is free of viruses or represent the full functionality, accuracy, and reliability of the materials.
In no event will ROCA Heritage be liable for any loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damages whatsoever arising from use or loss of use of, data or profits arising out of or in connection with the use of ROCA Heritage's website.
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These Terms and Conditions shall be covered by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising under these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
ROCA Heritage does not accept any responsibility for any loss, disruption or damage to your data or your computer system which may occur whilst using material derived from this website. ROCA Heritage does not warrant that the functions contained in the material in this site will be uninterrupted or error free. Also, ROCA Heritage does not warrant that defects will be corrected, or that this site or the server that makes it available is free of viruses or represent the full functionality, accuracy, and reliability of the materials.
In no event will ROCA Heritage be liable for any loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damages whatsoever arising from use or loss of use of, data or profits arising out of or in connection with the use of ROCA Heritage's website.
All Advertisements are generated independently through Google AdSense
These Terms and Conditions shall be covered by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising under these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.