Private W/31486 Auxiliary Territorial Service WWII
Timeline

Records indicate Katherine enrolled on the 15th February 1940 at Saltdean, Nr Brighton


We know from Cameron Carr that Katherine, (aged 20) walked to Wormingford and caught a bus to Colchester to join the ATS.
She most probably visited the Meeanee Barracks at the Colchester Garrison which was very likely a "holding point" for new recruits.
I would suggest the girls were subsequently given rail
passes to travel down to Saltdean.
It would have been implausible for Katherine to go direct to
Saltdean, on her own by public transport.
We know she had a brief connection to the Barracks, as the
Commanding Officer sent his condolences to the family after her death
She certainly never had any connection with Meeanee after
enlisting.
(b) Katherine officially joined the services on 15th February 1940, at the ATS Recruitment Centre at Saltdean, Nr Brighton
On her application form she was described as being:-
Height 5ft 7"
Weight 10st 10lb
Hazel eyes with brown hair
Religion, C of E
Occupation, Parlourmaid

The address given on her enlisted form, reads Mace Farm Copdock although by 1939, the family was at OverHall, Bures.
With her occupation being Parlourmaid, it seems to suggest that she had stayed behind and was working for Mr Hempson at Copdock
Mr Hempson was a partner in auctioneers "Spurling and Hempson" based in Ipswich