Joan Mary WATTS
(Later Joan Bartlett)

Serial Number: W4064
RNZAF Trade: Unknown
Date of Enlistment: 1942
Date of Demob: Unknown
Rank Achieved: WAL
Flying Hours: Nil
Operational Sorties: Nil

Date of Birth: 10th of June 1922
Personal Details: Joan was married to George R. Bartlett, who had been a Gunner (72963) in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He died 9th of June 1983, aged 63)

From 1946 Joan began a long association with the Cambridge RSA. She served for fifteen years on various committees from that date, and she worked tirelessly for the benefit of the club's members. She became the President of the local branch of the Home Services Association in 1968, serving in that post till 1977.

She was also elected Vice-President of the Cambridge RSA Women's Section in 1969, serving till 1970; and was then made President from 1972 to 1976. Joan led the RSA Women's Section in their first Anzac Day parade on the 25th of April 1976. She served as the Women's Section delegate on the RSA executive committee from 1989 to 1990 and served on both the club and house committees. In 1996 Joan was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Cambridge RSA as recognition for her many years of work for the club.

Service Details: Joan joined the WAAF around mid-March 1942. She and Pearl Holmes were farewelled from Cambridge at a special gathering of family and friends at Arawa Hall in Cambridge, where dancing took place as well as competitions to amuse those gathered. Music was provided by Mr S. Strange, and Mr A. Paton acted as MC. Joan and Pearl were presented with initialled leather hat boxes each.

Among the guests present, according to a report in the Waikato independent on the 20th of March 1942, were "Mesdames Watts, J. Davison, A. Paton, McFarlane, W. Blade, Tinkler, Conchie, A. Garnett, Husband, Greer, W. Perrott, and Hoskins. Misses D. Garnett, L. Sutherland, H. Marshall, J. Aspin, I. Shaw, J. McFarlane, M. Trott, J. Ogilvy, J. Ryan, P. Janes, G. Darnton, R. Paton, M. Nickle, M. Palmer, B. Hall, M. Mitchell, M. Hall, M. Mahood, V. Plescher, S. Beamish, M. Finch, K. McEwen, E. Garnett, B. Watts, M. McNamara, R. Chard, M. Watts."

Connection with Cambridge:

Details of Death: Joan died on the 30th of May 2002, aged 79 years.
Buried at: The RSA Lawn Cemetery, Hautapu, Cambridge

Above: Joan Bartlett (Photo courtesy of Eris Parker of the Cambridge Museum)

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