Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 15 November 1935, p10:
ROLVENDEN
Six weeks to the day from the time he left the moors at Edinglassie, Aberdeenshire, where he had enjoyed a shooting holiday, the mortal remains of the Rt. Hon. Harold John Tennant. P.C., were conveyed back there to be buried. Mr. Tennant died suddenly at his residence, Great Maytham, Rolvenden, on Friday, within a few days of his 70th birthday. He had just returned from his London house, and was playing billiards with his sons when the collapse occurred. Generally regarded as the Squire of Rolvenden, Mr. Tennant took a lively interest in the affairs of that village and lent his support the church and many local enterprises. He was a Justice of the Peace. The sixth son of the late Sir Charles Tennant, Bart., he was brother of the late Lord Glenconner and Lady Oxford and Asquith. He was born at Glen, and educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated. In 1892 he entered politics as assistant private secretary to his future brother-in-law, Mr. Asquith, who was then Home Secretary. Two years later he became Liberal M.P. for Berwickshire, and held the seat without a break for years. He was defeated by a Coalition Liberal in 1918, when the Division was altered, and also failed in his campaign at Central Glasgow in 1923. He was secretary to the Home Office Committee on various lead industries in 1893, and chairman of the Departmental Committee on miscellaneous dangerous trades from 1895 to 1899. He was also chairman of the Committee on the scientific and statistical investigations into the fishing industry. Mr. Tennant was appointed Parliamentary-Secretary to the' Board of Trade in 1909 and two years later became Financial Secretary at the War Office. He was afterwards appointed Under-Secretary of State for War and was holding that post when the War broke out. He was given a seat in the Cabinet as Secretary for Scotland in 1916. but went out of office on the fall of the Coalition Government. The Times in recording his death draws attention to the following paragraph from Lady Oxford’s autobiography. “Like every Tennant, he had powers of emotion and showed much generosity to his family. He was a fine sportsman with an exceptionally good eye for game.” Mr. Tennant was specially interested In the management of moors and coverts, and published a volume of annotated letters from his game-keeper. He was twice married, his first wife, the daughter of Major Gordon Duff, of Drummuir, Banffshire, having died in 1892. Pour years later he married a daughter of the late Mr. Geo. Whitley Abraham, of Rathgar, County Dublin. Mrs. Tennant, who is also a J.P., was Supt. Inspector of Factories, and during the War Director of the Women's Dept, of National Service and Chief Officer for Women's Welfare at the Ministry of Munitions. Their eldest son was killed in the war. Three sons and one daughter survive. The Interment took place Edinglassie on Tuesday and there will be memorial service Rolvenden next week.

Researched by GariochGraver