Friday Morning Talks: Seaborne Observers – With John Shere

Join us at the Museum on the anniversary of D-Day for our Friday morning talk where 81 years on, John Shere of the ROCA (Royal Observer Corps Association) will be talking to us about the unusual story of the ROC Observers who became enrolled in the Royal Navy and sailed with the allied invasion forces.

At a conference held at the Air Ministry on the 5 April 1944 it was agreed that Royal Observer Corps personnel, experienced in aircraft recognition, would be deployed to merchant vessels, wearing Royal Observer Corps uniform with the shoulder flash SEABORNE, and a Royal Navy brassard with the letters RN.

In total, 796 Observers became enrolled in the Royal Navy with the rank of Petty Officer / Aircraft Identifiers and sailed with the allied invasion forces taking part in Operation Overlord – the codename for the invasion and liberation of occupied Europe.

The talk will take place in the Museum’s Learning Centre and entry is included with Museum admission or Annual Membership.

Advance booking required – please reserve your place via the link below.

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