Local 108-year-old woman receives medal of honour 80 years after serving in WWII
Joan Fuller served two years as a radar operator with Britain's Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
ABOYNE – It’s taken 80 years, but Joan Fuller is finally getting her due.
The Wellington Terrace resident, who turned 108 in January, was presented with a medal of honour in a small ceremony at the retirement home on Feb. 11.
The 1939-1945 War Medal commemorates her years of service in England during the Second World War.
“I was interviewing her and realized she hadn’t received her medal,” said Beau Harper, founder of Soldier Search, a website that tells the stories of war veterans and helps researchers find historical military information.
He pulled some strings, had the medal shipped from the U.K. and pinned it on Fuller at the ceremony.
“England has not forgotten your service and neither has Canada,” Harper said.
Countless 1939-1945 War Medals were awarded by the British government to WWII veterans, but it is believed Fuller is the oldest person to ever receive one.
She served for two years with Britain's Women’s Auxiliary Air Force as a radar operator during the Second World War.
She said her service was very interesting, even though she didn’t detect any enemy planes from her post in northern Ireland.
However, life during the war was never easy.
Fuller lived through the Blitz, an eight-month German/Italian bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940-41. One night a falling enemy plane narrowly missed her house, crashing into a nearby home and killing everyone inside.
And on Oct. 5, 1943 her only sibling, Basil, was killed while serving in Italy.
Joan Fuller (nee Belmar) in uniform 1943-1945 and with daughter Felicity Barrington at the ceremony on Feb. 12.
After the war she met her future husband Christoper Fuller, who had fought in Italy and Africa.
Smitten, Joan Fuller (nee Belmar) followed him to Canada, where they married and raised their family.
Harper said Fuller's medal was probably missed because she left England and didn’t realize she was entitled to one.
“A lot of people are missed,” Harper said. “But it’s never too late and Joan is proof of that.”
Wellington County Warden Chris White said he has an interest in military history and found Fuller’s story fascinating.
“This is not that long ago,” he said. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for us and Canada.”
Centre Wellington Mayor Shawn Watters joked that Fuller is "the first time traveller I’ve met.”
“You are a fantastic example of what we should all strive for,” he said, referring to Fuller’s longevity and her service to her country.
Fuller said it was “exciting” to receive the medal and she didn't know she had missed out until a few weeks ago.
Fuller moved from Burlington to Wellington Terrace just two months ago to be closer to her daughter, Felicity Barrington, who lives in the township.
That’s another excitement, she said of getting to know the facility.
For more about Fuller's story visit the Soldier Search website.
