ROC Badges and
Uniform 
The ROC crest and cap badges depict an
Elizabethan soldier holding aloft a flaming torch while shielding his
eyes with his free hand, as though looking towards a distant place or
object. This central figure is encircled by a wreath of gilt laurel and
surmounted by the Royal Crown, the motto being Forewarned is Forearmed.
The same depiction appears on uniform buttons, lapel badges and the
reverse of the ROC long service medal. The symbol of the coast watcher
has its origins in the 16th century, where such individuals were
organised and paid for by the county sheriff to tend and light beacons
to warn of approaching enemies, such as the Spanish Armada of that
period.The first Corps uniform was issued RAF style uniforms in 1941, the RAF was able to provide the majority of the uniform items but held insufficient stocks of RAF blue berets. However, at that time the Army held a surplus of black Royal Tank Regiment berets, therefore the ROC was initially issued with black berets, which remained part of the ROC uniform only until a manufacturer was able to produce the prescribed midnight blue berets, which then remained part of the ROC uniform throughout its history. There was a similar shortage of both Sergeant and Corporal stripes. However, there was a large surplus of rank badges destined for the Royal Canadian (Volunteer) Storekeeper Corps who served in the UK during the Second World War. These badges, displayed horizontal bars within a wreath of laurel leaves, and were adopted for the ROC, with Chief Storekeeper becoming Chief Observer and Leading Storekeeper becoming Leading Observer.
