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Canadian woman, 108, one of oldest to receive Second World War medal from Britain
When Beau Harper met 108-year-old Joan Fuller at last year’s Remembrance Day service in Mount Hope, Ont., he knew he was witnessing something rare.
“She was 107 years old at the time and still living independently,” Harper told the National Post on Thursday.
Harper, a teacher in Peterborough and founder of Soldier Search, introduced himself and asked Fuller and her family whether she would consider being interviewed for his organization, which preserves the histories of Canadian veterans. She agreed.
When Harper visited her home in November to conduct the interview, he wasn’t sure what to expect. At the time of the interview, Fuller lived in Burlington but since then has moved to Fergus.
“Her memory was fantastic. She was walking around her home with her walker, and she had so many interesting stories to tell,” he said.
Born Lucie Anna Joan Belmar in England in 1918, Fuller grew up as Europe edged toward conflict. She would eventually join the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in 1943, serving as a radar operator, tasked with detecting planes and determining if they were enemy aircrafts, according to her Soldier Search profile.
After the war, she emigrated to Canada with her soon-to-be husband in 1947, landing in Burlington.
But, amid demobilization and international relocation, something was missed. Her 1939-1945 war medal never arrived.
The 1939-1945 war medal was awarded to those who completed at least 28 days of service between Sept. 3, 1939, and Sept. 2, 1945.
“I’d asked her, ‘Where’s your medal?’ and she said she never got one, I knew right away that she’d be entitled to at least one,” Harper said. He says he believes Fuller may have been missed during the period when medal were being distributed, as she left Britain shortly after the war.
Harper contacted a friend, Kyle Scott, who assists veterans in securing replacement medals. Together, they reached out to the British Ministry of Defence.
“I was so impressed,” Harper said. “The government can be very slow, but this medal arrived on my doorstep just two or three weeks after we put in the request.”
On Feb. 12, Fuller was formally presented with the medal she earned more than 80 years ago. At 108, she is believed to be among the oldest recipients of the 1939-1945 war medal.
“I had no idea I was even being considered until about two or three days ago,” Fuller told Barrie Today . “Apparently, when they were giving them out in England, they couldn’t find me because I had already immigrated to Canada, and that’s why it’s so late.”
Harper said the experience underscores the need to document service before it’s forgotten. He started Soldier Search a few years ago, driven by an “immense passion” for Canadian military history, interviewing veterans and publishing their stories online to ensure their experiences are not lost to time.
“I really hope that when I leave, they’re just a little bit more proud of what they’ve done and proud of their service.”
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