Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Joan was born in Aldershot England to Bertha and William Skerry who in 1925 left with Joan and her older brother Tom for a ship voyage to Fremantle, arriving on 24 December 1925. It was rather a rude shock for the family as they had no real idea of how hot Perth got in December (Summer).
Her parents had 4 (3 girls and 1 boy) further children in Australia, Jean Nell, Kath, Billy and Judy.
She enlisted in the Womens Airforce, as she said, to do her bit.
After the war she married James (Jim) Neilson (service number 84250) and between 1948 and 1956 had 5 boys.
Tragically, in September 1959 Jim was killed in an accident whilst working on the contruction of the Narrows Bridge in Perth and Joan was left to raise 5 boys under 11.
Joan remarried a Bill Spencer in 1960 but they were divorced later.
Joan continued her interest in the forces and joined to RSL Womens Auxillary later rising to become President of the WA branch.
She passed away in 2010.