Section Leader W/1895, Violet Hookham, 12th, Sussex ATS, was born on the 22nd of October 1910 at Eastbourne, the daughter of Sidney, born about 1883, and Bessie Fillery, born about 1885 of Oakland, Rosebery Avenue, Hampden Park.

The 1911 census finds Violet with her family at Oakland, Rosebery Avenue, Hampden Park, Eastbourne. Sidney, aged 28, is a plasterer, born Eastbourne. Bessie, aged 26, was born Amlwch, Wales. Violet is the only child.

The 1939 Register finds Violet as a kindergarten assistant at Somerset Barracks, Shorncliffe, Folkestone.

On the 25th of June, 1940, Violet was marching along a road in Reigate with other ATS members, a lorry, driven by Mr Frank Herbert Duly of Kingston, collided with the column by the Angel public house. Violet was taken to Redhill County Hospital where she died at 2.15pm, within minutes of arrival from severe concussion to the back of her head. [Doreen Batty of Churchdale Road, Eastbourne was also struck, she was taken to hospital, also with severe concussion, and fortunately recovered.]

The West Surrey Coroner, Mr G Wills Taylor, found that there was negligence on the part of the driver but that negligence did not amount to manslaughter. The Surrey Mirror for the 2nd of August reports that Frank Duly appeared in court on a charge of dangerous driving, but this was reduced to driving without due care and attention. He was fined £3-10s with an endorsement. He was also ordered to pay £6 8s 11d in costs to be paid at a rate of £1 per month.

The funeral service was held at St Mary’s Church, conducted by the Reverend H W Overs. A contingent of the ATS lined the path as the coffin, covered with the Union flag was borne to the church. A contingent of local Girl Guides, of which Violet had been a member, was also present, being a Captain of the 29th (Central) District.

The Eastbourne Gazette for the 27th of March, 1946 reports on the unveiling of a Roll of Honour at the Guides Head Quarters at South Street, in memory of the six Girl Guides who lost their lives “in the recent war”. The unveiling was carried out by Canon Corbett and was the artwork of Mrs Clay. Violet was one of those commemorated.