Her brief ‘home-front’ journal runs only from 1 August-12 September 1914; it comprises 27 loose leaves of lined paper, and it is clearly incomplete, ending in mid-sentence.
Diary 1 August- 12 September 1914
- War declared between Austria & Serviain morning paper.
- Evening paper announced Mr Redmond’s fine declarationthat all Irish volunteers would work together to help the empire.
- England declares war with Germany.Latter declined to respect Belgian neutrality.
- The Volunteer Corps who gave 3 hearty cheers for Father& were very nice & hearty.
- He arrived in London with 6d in his pocketbut managed somehow to get home (to Yorkshire).
- He was on the Ballycannon gun-running vessel& was leader of a sort of “scallywag” company of artillery.
- He had to hold himself ready to go out to Indiawithout his wife.
- There are rather contradictory reports about Liégethe Germans claim that the town has fallen.
- Talk of a German ship putting typhoid & cholera bacillusinto the Edinburgh water supply.
- I think war was declared with Austriatoday or last night.
- The Germans seem moving on very steadilyin spite of checks.
- Mrs B said she heard the Black Watch had been wiped outI earnestly hope it is not so.
- Mr O’Duffy very busy doing soldiers’ teethevidently gratis.
- The rumour about the Black Watch officially denied& is said to be of German origin.
- There is too a feeling of great uneasinessabout the Home Rule question.
- He would rather be governed by William 2ndthan by the Pope & a set of priests!
- Two windows had been smashed the evening beforewith an idea of frightening the guests.
- I worked hard getting house readyyesterday & this morning.
- The British force have been engaged againbattle probably still raging.
- Fighting in Belgium was raging from Saturday to Thursdaythe British force retiring by degrees
- Ulster has absolutely declined to make any advanceor relax their attitude of suspicion
- First bit of casualty Genl. Arthur’s 2nd son Graham killed& Lord Howarden believed to have died in hospital
- It is quite confirmed about her son& she is heartbroken poor thing.
- Their hands very queernot what nuns’ hands should be
- News still good.The Germans are being slowly driven back.
- We are very sad about the south of Irelandbeing so backward
- Another Russian vistory over the Austrian armynear Lublin reported.
in morning paper.
that all Irish volunteers would work together to help the empire.
Latter declined to respect Belgian neutrality.
& were very nice & hearty.
but managed somehow to get home (to Yorkshire).
& was leader of a sort of “scallywag” company of artillery.
without his wife.
the Germans claim that the town has fallen.
into the Edinburgh water supply.
today or last night.
in spite of checks.
I earnestly hope it is not so.
evidently gratis.
& is said to be of German origin.
about the Home Rule question.
than by the Pope & a set of priests!
with an idea of frightening the guests.
yesterday & this morning.
battle probably still raging.
the British force retiring by degrees
or relax their attitude of suspicion
& Lord Howarden believed to have died in hospital
& she is heartbroken poor thing.
not what nuns’ hands should be
The Germans are being slowly driven back.
being so backward
near Lublin reported.