Battle of Britain era pre 1941 Observer Corps cap badge.

Hard to find in undamaged condition as the rear blades often broke off as did the extended arm.

The badge reads "Observer Corps" with no "Royal", which dates it to before April 1941. The figure is an Elizabethan beacon lighter, one of the men who watched for the Spanish Armada in 1588 and lit beacon fires to warn of its approach.  Pre-1941 examples are die-stamped and around 38mm tall, with early white metal badges having three blade fastenings at the top and both sides.

During the Battle of Britain, coastal radar could only look out to sea, so once raiders crossed inland the Observer Corps tracked them and estimated their numbers and height. Dowding said the Corps "constituted the whole means of tracking enemy raids once they had crossed the coastline". In recognition of this, the House of Commons was told on 9 April 1941 that King George VI had granted the title "Royal". The badge was then redesigned with a crown, laurels and the motto "Forewarned is Forearmed".