Brigadier Dame Joan Evelyn Clara Henderson DBE (24 December 1915 – 23 September 2018) also known as Joanna Henderson and Joanna Kelleher, was the highest-ranking officer in the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) from 1964 to 1967. She was preceded by Brigadier Dame Jean Rivett-Drake (1961–1964) and succeeded by Brigadier-Dame Mary Anderson (1967–1970).[1][2] [3] She retired from the Women's Royal Army Corps on 22 September 1967.[4]
Henderson, always known as "Joanna", was born in London to Scottish parents: Kenneth Henderson, a distinguished barrister (originally from Stonehaven) and his wife, Evelyn. She was educated privately in Surrey and Switzerland.[5]
She was appointed an Honorary Aide de Camp to Queen Elizabeth II om 15 September 1964 and became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's birthday honours of 1965.[6][7]
References
- ^ "Brigadier Dame Joanna Kelleher obituary". 18 October 2018 – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
- ^ "Obituary - Joanna Kelleher, director of the Women's Royal Army Corps". www.pressreader.com. Daily Express. 27 October 2018.
- ^ "Obituary - Joanna Kelleher, director of the Women's Royal Army Corps who expanded the roles for women in the armed forces". HeraldScotland.
- ^ "No. 44420". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 October 1967. p. 10673.
- ^ "Obituary - Joanna Kelleher, director of the Women's Royal Army Corps who expanded the roles for women in the armed forces". HeraldScotland.
- ^ "No. 43433". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 September 1964. p. 7761.
- ^ "No. 43667". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1965. p. 5476.