FERGUSON, Joyce Jane
| Service Number: | Q142408 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 July 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 24 August 1918 |
| Home Town: | Corinda, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Corinda State School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Milliner |
| Died: | Greenwell Point, New South Wales Australia, 13 April 2023, aged 104 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 5 Jul 1942: | Involvement Corporal, Q142408, on WW2NR as Q142408 | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jul 1942: | Enlisted | |
| 5 Jul 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, Q142408 | |
| 6 Jul 1945: | Discharged | |
| 6 Jul 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, Q142408 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karen Standen
Joyce Jane Norris (nee Ferguson) QF142408
As July 1942 approached, Joyce Jane Ferguson, a 23-year-old milliner from Corinda, Queensland, was on the cusp of enlisting in the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS). Her elder brother, George William Ferguson QX14686, had enlisted early in the war and was taken prisoner during the Greece campaign. It would be a further 16 months before the family would know he was safe: — “…Cpl. Joyce Ferguson, A.W.A.S. missed being with the rest of her family at Corinda when the official news arrived last Monday that her brother, Driver George Ferguson, who had been a prisoner of war in Germany for nearly three years, was free, and had arrived in Egypt. Joyce had been home on 14 days' leave, and had just left to return North to duty when the telegram boy came; so the family passed on the glad tidings by wire…”[i]
Following basic instruction, Joyce trained as a signaller and later specialised as a cypher operator. During her three years of service, Joyce was attached to numerous units scattered throughout Queensland (White Hills, Bribie Island, Coloundra, Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands) including: No 1 & No 2 Coy Brisbane Signals, Signals Fixed Defences QLD, Anti-Aircraft & Fortress Signals NA, QLD AA & CA Signals, 3 Coy AA & CA Signals, and the 7 Australian Cipher Section.
Joyce was awarded the War Medal, Australian Service Medal and the General Service Brooch in recognition of her WW2 service. In 2016, QF142408 Corporal Joyce Jane Norris (nee Ferguson) was photographed proudly wearing her medals as part of the AWM 'Reflections – Honouring Australian Second World War Veterans' project. Joy Norris recently passed away aged 104.
Lest we forget.
[i] 1943 'Roundabout with Penelope', Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1926 - 1954), 14 November, p. 8. , viewed 30 Apr 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97802950
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