Fake ROC 'Head Observer' Breast Title?
 

What do members make of this? The Head Observer title is woven, not like any I have seen before (bevo weave) and incorrectly worn on an ROC Battledress when it was an OC title, which was replaced in the ROC by the sleeve rank badges. Surely if ROC he would be wearing a sleeve rank badge, even if the title was still worn?

http://www.monsmilitaryantiques.co.uk/viewphoto.php?x=0

I think you need to fix the URL link

Works for me Mike??

The title in question and a genuine one. I'd question why a member would go to the trouble of having a 'Head Observer' title privately made when they were very short lived and replaced upon the designation 'Royal' to the Observer Corps. Also the BD is 1943 dated and the trousers 1942 dated. The ROC came in to being in April 1941, so even adding the title straight away, it was attached to the BD at least two years after it became obsolete. Added somewhere along the line to bump up the price, especially considering the rarity and value of the title?

http://www.monsmilitaryantiques.co.uk/viewphoto.php?x=2

All the parts of this lot look good. Remember, what was supposed to be worn is not always what was worn. I have had a couple of uniforms over the years with insignia that does not conform but came direct from house clearance.
Lee

This URL works for me

http://www.monsmilitaryantiques.co.u...=104212&phqu=8

Yours do not as they do not have the item number!

They both bring up the same page for me Mike, on both the mobile and the PC.

Oh well, I got to it in the end

Probably a bit late for this thread but here is a photograph of some members of the Observer Corps. Note that the Head Observer wears his Head Observer title above his right breast pocket.

Nice Image High Wood, I have a period one (although not to hand) with the "Duty Controller" rank tape being worn on the sleeve - so proving that practice did not always follow the policy and guidance.

This is obviously at the start of the beret shaping course :D

It obviously didn't go too well as, in this second photograph from the same source, two of them have lost their berets.

This photograph is post April 1941 as they are now wearing ROC badges.

Do you have any better images of the chap in the middle? I cannot tell if he is wearing L/Obs or C/Obs rank badges, if they are either - they seem exceptionally large in size. (Scaling them against the Royal Observer Corps chest badge). Or else it is something else...or my duff eyesight