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A veteran interview with

Joan Field

Joan Field was a WREN stationed at an extraordinarily remote signal station overlooking the Firth of Lorne in Scotland. Her job was to ensure that every passing ship was properly recorded.

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About Joan Field

In 1941 at the age of 17, Joan Field applied to join the WRNS (Women’s Royal Naval Service). Keen not to become a cook or a steward, Joan was happy when the discovery of her perfect eyesight meant she was chosen to become a signaller and sent to HMS Cabbala to begin her training.

Joan talks in detail about the instruction she received – including Morse code, semaphore, the phonetic alphabet and naval discipline – before her first draft sent her north to the pier signal station in Oban. Joan shares memories of life in Oban, and the stark differences she encountered when she moved to the remote Ganavan signal station shortly after her arrival in Scotland, recalling one particularly frightening encounter that made her glad of the pistol training all Wrens received. She also talks about the improvements to planning that came when the Americans joined the war, but recalls with some horror their apparent lack of discipline within the ranks.

Joan’s story provides a particularly engaging insight into the life and work of a female signaller, and highlights her deep connection both to the Scottish Highlands and the vital role she played in the war effort.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Caroline Barratt

Copyright:
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Home | Veterans | Joan Field

A veteran interview with

Joan Field

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Joan Field was a WREN stationed at an extraordinarily remote signal station overlooking the Firth of Lorne in Scotland. Her job was to ensure that every passing ship was properly recorded.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Field, Joan. A Veteran Interview with Joan Field. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 29 Aug. 2014 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joan-field/. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
APA Style:
Field, J. (2014, August 29). A Veteran Interview with Joan Field [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved May 18, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joan-field/
Chicago Style:
Field, Joan. 2014. A Veteran Interview with Joan Field. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, August 29. Accessed May 18, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joan-field/
Harvard Style:
Field, J. (2014). A Veteran Interview with Joan Field. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 29 August. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joan-field/ (Accessed: 18 May 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Field, J. A Veteran Interview with Joan Field [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2014 Aug 29 [cited 2025 May 18]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joan-field/
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