Born in 1897 in Surrey as Beatrice Annie Godwin, the daughter of a draper, she left school aged 15 to start working as a counting house clerk in the West End.
Born in 1897 in Surrey as Beatrice Annie Godwin, the daughter of a draper, she was educated at the British School, Bridge Road, Godalming. She left school at 15 and began her working life as a counting house clerk in the West End.