Wellington Terrace Long Term Care Home was proud to honour remarkable resident Lucie Anna Joan Fuller (née Belmar) today for her service during the Second World War.
Born on January 15, 1918, in Osterley, England, Joan, as she prefers to be called, served with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) as a radar operator, playing a vital role in Britain’s air defence network. After training at RAF Cranwell, she was stationed primarily at RAF Castlerock in Northern Ireland, where she detected and plotted aircraft movements during the war. She was later posted to RAF Swingate Down near Dover, monitoring air traffic over the English Channel and the Thames Estuary.
Joan’s wartime service took place against the backdrop of the Blitz, rationing, and personal loss. In 1943, her younger brother, Basil, was killed while serving in Italy. Despite these hardships, Joan continued her service until taking an early discharge on compassionate grounds to care for her ill mother shortly before the war’s end.
On January 15, 2026, Joan celebrated her 108th birthday. In November 2025, an interview conducted by Beau Harper of Soldier Search revealed that Joan had never received the 1939-45 War Medal to which she was entitled. She had followed her future husband, Christopher Fuller, to Canada in 1947 before receiving the medal.
While millions of 1939-45 War Medals have been awarded to Second World War veterans, Mrs. Fuller is believed to be the oldest person ever to receive this honour.
About Wellington Terrace
Wellington Terrace is Wellington County’s 176-room long-term care home, featuring spectacular views of the Elora-Fergus countryside. The Terrace team is committed to providing excellent, compassionate care while honouring the unique needs of each resident.
Media Contact:
Tiffany Wurdell, Life Enrichment Manager, 519.846.5359 x 7236, tiffanyw@wellington.ca