William and Janet's Children - Janet Clark

Janet Clark b 1888

In 1915 Janet Clark aged 23 married Luke Dent aged 24.  Her wedding dress was beautiful. Grandma said the feathers in that fabulous hat were Ostrich. The beading is so delicate. She also told me she was driven to the church in an open Landau. 

Janet Dent nee Clark, an Elegant Bride, in 1915 - Newcastle upon Tyne

A very young and handsome Luke Dent 

An Open Landau

Janet was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and Luke was born in Brandon County Durham. 

The 1911 Census shows Luke was aged 20, living with his family at 22 Montague Street Scotswood and is recorded as working as a coal miner (picker). 

Amazingly Montague Street still exists, as many houses in the Scotswood Benwell area have been demolished.  This is 22 Montague Street today.

22 Montague Street today (1st Left)

Janet and Luke married three years before the First World War broke out. I don't have a lot of information about Grandpa's time in the war.  His regiment was the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.  He was awarded the War Medal and Victory Medal - The British War Medal and the Victory Medal are the most likely medals to be found among family heirlooms. I don't know what happened to them.  I was told Luke was a 'runner' which meant one of his jobs was to 'run' between trenches with messages, I believe he was wounded.

Here is Luke in uniform.

Luke Dent in Uniform - Scotswood Newcastle upon Tyne

Restored

A while back I took this photograph frame apart to clean.  Inside I found the original receipt from James Bacon and Sons Photographers Studio.  It is dated 5th December 1918, which confirms Luke had been demobbed and was home.  The receipt also shows that this was an expensive photograph as it cost two guineas.

Can you imagine how this must have felt for both my Grandparents, they hadn't been married very long before Luke went off to war, and by the time he returned they had a young daughter Janet (Jenny). A joyous time for them, and similar couples and families, but unbearable for millions of families who would never see their loved ones again. Luke was one of the so called 'lucky' ones because he survived. 

Normally it takes quite some time for soldiers to be repatriated at the end of war, but Luke seems to have managed to get home quite quickly.  Perhaps it was his job at Vickers-Armstrongs that helped as working for such a company would be seen as vital work. 

Boiler Shop Vickers Armstrong 1928

This is Luke's Long Service Certificate from Vickers - Armstrongs which I am so proud of.  It was presented on completion of more than 40 years service 1915 - 1958 which means that by the time Luke and Janet were married in 1915 he had begun working for Vickers.

By 1901 (Queen Victoria's death) almost 60,000 people worked at the armament factory.  Armstrong's guns were world renowned.  His revolutionary rifled barrels and breech loading mechanism offered previously unknown speed and accuracy

In 1914 Janet Little wrote to her daughter Janet before Luke went off to war.  Grandma kept this letter and so have I.

Note I have translated as best I can and kept the spelling and grammar as it was written.

Janet Little's letter to Janet Page 1

August 28th 19l4

My dear daughter I now sit down to write a few line to you hoping to find you in good health as thank god it leaves us all at present and hopping Look (Luke) has got back again all rite an that he is working fool time now but your father is just getting a chance day or to so you see that we are among the

Janet Little's letter to her daughter Janet Page 2

Many and you may think it bad and unkind of your mother but not writing to you before now you need not for we are all like soldiers here for we cannot rest in the house I we are are getting all over since the war I think it is no nearer hand than it was at first dear Janet I don't know if I told you about your sister Mary writing to me again but I had a letter from her a fortnight since and she wanted a letter quick  

Janet Little's letter to her daughter Janet Page 3

An I write to her a week since and I never got one back yet it must not hafe pleased her or him and I wrote to your sister willehmina a week ago and we hafe not had word yet but she said in the last letter that will (Will Kearton husband) was losson no time with the war so that is a good job  Dear Janet I hafe thoughit more about it this last day or so then ever wich we can no helpit but them floting mines is going to 

Letter from Janet Little to her daughter Janet Page 4

be a bad job dear Janet we have had one of orsden soldiers shot him self they brought it in that way weather it was or not but we don't think he did and when you write again let me know you know that we can always spare a cup of te for you and look So I think I hafe said all this time from your ever loving father and mother william and janet Pattison so be good and keep trusting it is best it always come of best at the end and you will find that come true with love to all not forgetting yourself and look write soon back.

Around this time Luke and Janet were living in one of the 411 temporary Munitions Cottages in Scotswood built in 1916 for employees of the Armstrong Whitworth Factory. Note the studio photograph of Luke is on the side table. My mam inherited the table and then my sister, but unfortunately she no longer has it. 

Janet Dent Munition Cottages Scotswood Newcastle upon Tyne

Restored

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