Born: 3 June 1916, Australia
Died: 13 March 1995
Country most active: New Zealand
Also known as: NA
When World War II began in 1939, the Women’s Royal Naval Service (New Zealand) was formed, becoming the Women’s Royal New Zealand Naval Service (WRNZNS) in 1942. Lorelle joined the Wrens’ first Auckland intake as a clerk–typist, as was rapidly promoted. In September 1943, as fourth officer, she helped oversee the 200 women then serving in the Auckland area. She was a strict disciplinarian who held those who served under her to her own high standards – though most of them endured spartan conditions in the Devonport barracks while Fourth Officer Corbin enjoyed the comfort of her parents’ Remuera home.
In July 1945 she was one of two Wrens appointed to train for service overseas with the British Pacific flee; to their great disappointment, they were no longer needed after Japan’s surrender the following month. Instead, she was transferred to Wellington to serve as secretary to the chief of naval staff. Shortly afterwards, she was promoted to third officer, with the ranking backdated to March 1945. The Wrens were retained for another year to help process the discharge of naval personnel, during which time Lorelle and 11 other New Zealand Wrens were selected to participate in the Victory Parade in London. She was demobilised in September 1946, and the WRNZNS was disbanded that December.