Skywatch march

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Skywatch is the official regimental march of the Royal Observer Corps . [1]

Royal Observer Corps

The Royal Observer Corps (ROC) was a civil defence organisation intended for the visual detection, identification, tracking and reporting of aircraft over Great Britain. It operated in the United Kingdom between 29 October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down.. Composed mainly of civilian spare-time volunteers, ROC personnel wore a Royal Air Force (RAF) style uniform and latterly came under the administrative control of RAF Strike Command and the operational control of the Home Office. Civilian volunteers were trained and administered by a small cadre of professional full-time officers under the command of the Commandant Royal Observer Corps; latterly a serving RAF Air Commodore.

The march was composed and scored in 1972 by Wing Commander Roy R C Davies RAF, [2] at the time leader and conductor of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. The tune is reminiscent of the march of the RAF [3] and has been played on many formal occasions, including two Royal Garden Parties in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II at RAF Bentley Priory and at the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall.

Royal Air Force Aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's aerial warfare force. Formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world. Following victory over the Central Powers in 1918 the RAF emerged as, at the time, the largest air force in the world. Since its formation, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history. In particular, it played a large part in the Second World War where it fought its most famous campaign, the Battle of Britain.

Central Band of the Royal Air Force

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RAF Bentley Priory

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In 1994 Davies donated the original score of Skywatch for inclusion in the book "Forewarned is Forearmed - a tribute to the Royal Observer Corps". [4]

Skywatch continues to feature on musical collections released by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. [5]

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References

  1. ↑ Skywatch in ROC history Archived 2005-03-11 at the Wayback Machine .
  2. ↑ Davies composer
  3. ↑ Skywatch at Youtube.com
  4. ↑ Score donated for book
  5. ↑ High Flight compact disk Archived 2011-12-07 at the UK Government Web Archive


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