Joan Taylor

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A veteran interview with

Joan Taylor [nee Tapp] was an WTS FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry) with the SOE. She worked as a wireless operator.

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About Joan Taylor

Joan Taylor, a member of the Women’s Transport Service First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY), served in the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II. Born in London, Joan’s family relocated to Buckinghamshire and later to Surrey due to the war.

At 19, Joan joined FANY, attracted by its unique reputation and diverse roles. She underwent training at Overthorpe Hall in Banbury, learning Morse code, coding, and other essential skills. Later, at Fawley Court and Thame, she honed her skills in wireless operation and coding, working with agents who were being trained for deployment in occupied countries.

Joan’s service took her to various locations, including Grendon Hall, where she worked as part of an operational team transmitting messages to and from agents in the field. She was later deployed to Massingham in North Africa, where she continued her signals work, primarily supporting missions in France and Italy.

After Massingham, Joan was stationed in Bari and Siena, Italy, where she continued her signals work until the war’s end. She reflects on her wartime service with pride, recognising the importance of her role in supporting the Allied effort.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Atiyyah Afzal

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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