Obtaining the Diary
At the end of September 2023, something interesting came up for sale on eBay with the title Allies Diary 1918 * Including 11th November, Bells Ring Out, It’s Over.
It was a diary written by a young lady named Sheilah Doherty (full name: Sheilah Doreen Gambier Doherty), aged 17 in 1918. Below you can see what she looked like when she was a little over 51 years old, courtesy of the Hastings and St Leonards Observer, 19th July, 1952.
This sounded very interesting in fact, but who was Sheilah, and where was she born?
That’s when things got even more exciting. With a bit of research, I soon found out that she was born in Plumstead, the very same town that many of my relatives hail from. What’s more, when looking at her baptism record, she appeared on almost the same page as a Meekums family member did. Could they have known each other? Could Sheilah tell me about what things were like in Plumstead in 1918? And wasn’t the person that baptised her the same person that performed the ceremony for my relative?
It was almost too much to bear putting my bid in. I picked a number that I was prepared to pay, then increased it, and then mentally did it again! I just had to have it. And thankfully, I won! Phew.
I was away at the time, but knew the diary was going to be sent from Rye, which is east of Hastings on the south coast of England, so not long to wait.
Once I got home, I contacted the seller to try to understand where they had come by the diary and whether the surnames Doherty or Isles (plus some other small details I’d worked out), meant anything to them. Unfortunately, all they could tell me was that it had been in their mother’s possession and they didn’t know anything else.
Sadly, that looked like a dead end.
Meeting Gillian & Our Project
A bit more tree research and I found Sheilah’s brother (Terence) who had been in the army. Even better, a lady named Gillian had written all about him so this was a huge lead. I contacted her and was so fortunate that she was able to help me understand more about Sheilah and place some of the facts in the diary, into context.
We then both agreed that it would be a good project to transcribe the diary but sharing the workload. The plan? To copy it as it is written, much as Gillian had done for her brother’s letters, without any intepretation or alteration.
And here it is! It’s been a long journey over a number of months, but we hope you agree, a worthwhile endeavour.
All that remains is to get ready to be transported back to 1918. The First World War is still waging with no end in sight, and young Sheilah is watching it unfold.
The Diary Organised Into Months
- January: Skating on frozen ponds, church services, and local social gatherings fill her days, yet she yearns for a more active role, eagerly pursuing opportunities to become a female transport driver.
- February: Sheilah’s February entries are dominated by her growing infatuation with “him,” meticulously recording each sighting and hopeful glance. The constant threat of air raids persists, adding a layer of anxiety to her daily life.
- March: The loss of her dog Pat deeply saddens her, and she grapples with accepting his disappearance. She also anticipates the arrival of a pony, showing her excitement for new responsibilities. The war’s impact is evident in mentions of air raids, downed aeroplanes, and the ongoing battle in France, and the men in her life being rejected from service.
- April: Sheilah’s April entries continue to blend daily life with wartime anxieties and personal developments. She focuses on her pony, Tag, riding him frequently and navigating his obstinate behavior. Her interest in rabbits remains, including the anticipation of a litter and the challenges of breeding. Romantic interests persist, with mentions of Mr. Evans and a “curly boy,” alongside her fluctuating feelings.
- May: Her affection for Kenneth Tench blossoms, with frequent mentions of letters and anticipation of meeting him. Family is central, with visits from siblings, her mother’s travels, and the comings and goings of her brother Terence, who is soon to depart for Egypt.
- June: These entries are filled with a whirlwind of activity and emotional shifts. She briefly enters the Royal Flying Corps as a dispatch rider, but quickly returns home, highlighting a period of indecision. Her romantic life is complex, with ongoing correspondence with Kenneth, a flirtation with “Ted” (Mr. Adolphus), and the return of Arthur Willis.
- July: Her romantic entanglements continue, with updates on Kenneth and a wistful mention of Mr. Shillaker. She deals with the ups and downs of pet ownership, including the joy of her new dog, Scotty, and the sadness of his sudden death.
- August: The abrupt end of her correspondence with Kenneth is followed by a passionate encounter with Harold, which she declares as her truest love. Family visits and the ongoing routines of rural life continue to fill her days.
- September: She grapples with complex romantic feelings, shifting from her infatuation with Harold to a burgeoning affection for Percy, an Australian soldier she meets while skating in Folkestone. Her social life remains active, with visits from friends and family, and participation in local events like the Harvest Festival.
- October: October is a month of illness and emotional turmoil for Sheilah. Her hopes of rekindling her romance with Percy in Folkestone are dashed, and she grapples with the loss of Seales, a young boy from the school. She herself falls ill with influenza, highlighting the widespread impact of the pandemic.
- November: November brings the end of the war, celebrations, and continued personal grief for Sheilah. Daily life resumes with church services, social gatherings, and errands.
- December: December is a month of festive preparations and social events for Sheilah, marked by Christmas celebrations, visits from family, and local gatherings. Sad news about Perce.
Further Information and Images
There are so many extra details that we could have added to the main diary pages but instead chose to keep the notes fairly brief and instead provide links to images, information and biographical data, collated on this page.
Credits
After the diary was shared on Facebook on three community pages, we were incredibly grateful to receive a whole host of information which added context to the many things that Sheilah wrote about. Our huge thanks (in alphabetical order) go to:
- Jules Wallis for many, many contributions across a multitude of months, including background on people that were connected to Felsted School, pictures of the local area and details of many of the local people of Felsted at that time.
- Laurence C for revealing that Florence was his Great Grandmother - mentioned in November.
- And Others who know who they are but have asked to remain anonymous.
Thank you all so very much; your additions have really increased the value of this transcription.
See or read anything you’d like to talk about? Please do get in touch.