Beau Harper encountered 108-year-old Joan Fuller during last year’s Remembrance Day service in Mount Hope, Ontario, recognizing a remarkable moment. At 107, she lived independently, prompting Harper, a Peterborough teacher and founder of Soldier Search—a group dedicated to preserving Canadian veterans’ histories—to seek an interview. She agreed, and he visited her Burlington home in November, just before her move to Fergus.
A Vivid Memory and Wartime Service
Fuller’s recall proved exceptional as she navigated her home with a walker, sharing captivating stories. Born Lucie Anna Joan Belmar in England in 1918, she witnessed Europe nearing war. In 1943, she enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force as a radar operator, identifying aircraft as friend or foe.
Post-war, she immigrated to Canada in 1947 with her future husband, settling in Burlington. Amid demobilization and relocation, her 1939-1945 War Medal—awarded for at least 28 days of service from September 3, 1939, to September 2, 1945—never reached her.
Securing the Missing Honor
During the interview, Harper inquired about her medal. Learning she never received it, he confirmed her eligibility, suspecting distribution oversights after her departure from Britain. He enlisted friend Kyle Scott, a veterans’ advocate, to contact the British Ministry of Defence.
The medal arrived swiftly on Harper’s doorstep within two to three weeks. On February 12, he pinned it on Fuller, marking her as one of the oldest known recipients at 108.
“I had no idea I was even being considered until about two or three days ago,” Fuller stated. “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.”
Preserving Veterans’ Legacies
Harper views the event as a call to document service histories urgently. Through Soldier Search, launched from his passion for Canadian military past, he interviews veterans and shares their accounts online. “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,” he said.
