Joyce joined the WRNS soon after her 18th birthday, at Easter 1941. She served as a Petty Officer (Signals), serving at HMS Watchful, HMS Pembroke and finally, HMS Lynx, in the tunnels under Dover Castle.

Joyce left the service in 1945, Joyce made enduring friendships in the WRNS. She retained a lifelong interest in the WRNS and went to several reunions, including the 50 year celebrations of Frontline Britain, which included a trip to Calais. Joyce remained a member of the Association of Wrens until her death and often said that her years in the Service were the happiest in her life, despite the constant shelling of the cliff face in Dover. She put this down to the sense of common purpose in fighting the enemy.