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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 418

Sold by Order of the Family

Four: Junior Commander J. C. C. Bernard, Auxiliary Territorial Service, who won a 'mention' for her work against V-1 and V-2 rockets, besides planning Operation 'Backfire'; latterly Founding Principal of the women's college Trevelyan at Durham University

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, good very fine (4)

M.I.D London Gazette 31 July 1945 (North-West Europe).

Joan Constance Churchill Bernard was born on 6 April 1918, the daughter of Admiral Vivian Bernard (Medals sold in these rooms in April 2020). She was educated at Ascham School, an independent girls school in Sydney, Australia and at St Anne's College, Oxford. During the Second World War she was commissioned into the Auxiliary Territorial Service and rose to be Junior Commander (Captain). From 1944-45 she was based at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, serving in SO Air Defence Division. Between July-November 1945, she was posted to Special Projectile Operations Group. Whilst there, she was involved in tactical planning of the defence against the V-1 and V-2 rockets: Operation 'Backfire' was her initiative. 'Backfire' gave the British the opportunity to observe and interrogate the German scientists who build the weapon. The handling and launch procedures were unknown, so German personnel were ordered to perform these, which for the most part they did willingly. The launches were filmed and because the personnel wore their original uniforms and the rockets were painted in near to their original livery, this footage has been mistaken for footage of wartime German launches. The British attempted to recruit German personnel, even those transferred from US custody and due to be returned, to assist with our own missile programme.

After the Second World War, Bernard joined the scientific department of the National Coal Board, served as Assistant Secretary (Education, Music and Drama) of the National Federation of Women's Institutes from 1950-57. She returned to education in 1957 and began the study of theology at King's College London. In 1962, she became Warden of Canterbury Hall, a hall of residence of the University of London and was also a part-time lecturer and tutor in theology at King's College London.

In May 1965, she was selected to become the Founding Principal of a new women's college of the University of Durham. She took up the post in January 1966, giving her nine months to prepare Trevelyan College for its first students. She was concurrently an Honorary Lecturer in Theology and retired from university life in 1978.

Retiring to London, she became an active member of the national structure of the Church of England, serving as a Member of the Ordination Candidates' Committee, ACCM from 1972-91. In addition, on a local scale, she was Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Southwark from 1984-94. Bernard died on 1 August 2012, her funeral was held at Southwark Cathedral on 30 August 2012.

Sold together with a large archive of original material including photographs from her wartime service, including the rocket tests of Operation 'Backfire', portrait photographs, besdies two photograph albums related to Trevelyan College and other family images and documents.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£400

Starting price
£160