Add MS 89176/1

Prior to the outbreak of the First World War Sheena Tennant’s diary mainly focuses on her social engagements, going to plays and exhibitions, practicing music, going to church and shopping. She also travels around Britain a lot, spending nights in: Glasgow; Nottingham; Kilmarnock; Carlisle; Purton, Wiltshire; Cookham Berkshire; Coniston, Cumbria; Windermere, Cumbria; Loch Goil, Scotland; Talkin Tarn, Cumbria; Angerton, Cumbria; Warsash, Hampshire; Cambridge and Ugley, Essex. However she spends most of her time in Fairlie in Scotland and in London.

When First World War breaks out she offers her services to ‘The Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association’ and to ‘The Women’s Emergency Corps’ as a French and German Interpreter. However, initially there is little to do and the War is rarely mentioned in the diaries. By October she is spending a lot of her time working for ‘The Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association’ and ‘The Mine Sweepers Association’. Her brother Charles joins up to fight in France. Despite the declaration of War she still travels a lot, visiting: [Cove?] in Scotland; Fairlie; Dougarie, Scotland; Witley, Surrey; Holmwood, Surrey and London. Sheena also continues to go to plays, exhibitions and concerts.

Significant people mentioned: Joan Howson, mentioned throughout the diary; Whilst in Scotland she frequently mentions seeing Lord and Lady Glasgow and Sir William MacGregor; Doris Mackinnon, June 1914; Whilst in Warsash she visits Portsmouth to see the Naval Review with Sir Harry Crichton, June 1914; Miss Conan Doyle and Dorothy Kirkwood, 9th September 1914; Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, 10th November 1914; The Vaughan Williams Family, 22nd November 1914; Military personnel and titled women are frequently mentioned throughout the diary.