Violet was the daughter of John Oswald Allen Clarke and Maud Allen Clarke, nee Seagrove, and the grand-daughter of Thomas Avery Clarke, the Vicar of St George the Martyr, in Bolton, Lancashire. Violet's father was educated in Bolton and Nottingham before going to Cambridge University and was ordained a deacon in 1896. Within a very short time he married and moved to Queensland, Australia, where Violet was born on 6 March 1894. John was Vicar of Smythesdale, from 1901 until 1906. He died in 1907 and very soon after 13 year-old Violet and her mother travelled to England. In 1911 they were living at Holly Lodge, Etchingham, Sussex, with Maud's brother, Randolph St L Seagrove. Nothing more was found about Violet until her death from tuberculosis of the lung and intestine, on 20 April 1921. Her death certificate reveals that she died at "The Training Home", in Grand Avenue, Worthing, and that her mother, whose address is given as West Dulwich, was with her. Violet was buried on 23 April at Heene.
"Daughter of John Oswald Allen Clarke, Vicar of Smythesdale, Victoria, Australia (deceased); Maud Allen Clarke, Mother, resident at 8 Carson Road, West Dulwich was present at the death."