William & Janet Clark's Children - Janet - Janet & Luke's Children - Jenny - Second Marriage to Norman Stafford

Sometime In 1943/1944 Jennie was invited to 1 Dodsworth North Greenside by a work colleague that worked at Scotswood Baths; their name was Charlton. Norman was friends with the husband and just happened to call in when my mam was there. Jennie and Norman were married on the 1st April 1944.  Norman did not tell his parents that he was going to get married, and I am not sure that my Grandma and Grandpa Dent knew either. There were no photographs taken of the wedding. They had two daughters Dorothy and Pauline.

1 Dodsworth North Greenside today

Jennie and Norman lived with his parents at 16 Milton Street for a couple of years where their first daughter Dorothy was born in 1944. Shortly after their second daughter Pauline was born in 1946 they bought the house opposite, 13 Milton Street Greenside.  

Pauline aged 14 and Jean Stafford 13 Milton Street Circa 1960

13 Milton Street today

By today's standards these houses were very basic, known as 'two-up and two down' (four rooms in all) with a back yard containing an outside toilet and coal house.  Coal was very important as it fed the only heating in the house, a cast iron range in the main room.

Similar Range to that installed in 13 Milton Street 

These ugly beasts were the only means of keeping the house warm, and they were also used for cooking and hot water, as they had an oven and a boiler.  Like many people after the war, Norman and Jennie decided to 'modernise' the house, so after a few years dad ripped it out and replaced it with a tiled fireplace. 


This, thereby, caused a problem, 'what to cook on'.  So a small cast iron coal fired stove was bought called a "Baby Belle," still ugly, but much smaller, was installed in the scullery, so two rooms now had a form of heating.  However, the "Baby Belle" was still hard work, but you didn't have to tramp through the house with dirty shovels of coal from the coalhouse  The stove had round plates that you lifted with a metal type hook leaving a hole where you placed the pans over the flames.  Dad also installed a bath in the scullery with a wooden hinged top over it and this was used as our kitchen table. (all mod cons!)  There was some type of boiler system installed for hot water.

A modern day version of a cast iron stove

This old photograph not only shows a range, note the clothes drying above.  It also shows an old man sitting in a rocking chair and surprisingly it is the same as the one I inherited from Grandma and Grandpa Dent - apparently it belonged to Luke's sister (my Great Aunt Amelia) who lived at Woodlands, near Bishop Auckland.

My Rocking Chair and Black Dolls today

William & Janet Clark's Children - Janet - Janet & Luke's Children - Jennie's Life Moves On

The beginning of Jennie & Norman's Family Life

1947 Norman with Dorothy aged 2 and Jennie with Pauline aged 1 
in garden of 13 Gregson Street Scotswood

1950 Dorothy aged 6 Grandpa Luke, Pauline aged 5 & Jennie
at Tynemouth Open-air Swimming Pool

Circa 1953 Pauline & Dorothy On A Day out with Mam and Dad

Circa 1963 Pauline aged 17 Dorothy aged 18 taking Rover for a Walk to Kyo Farm Greenside

PAULINE'S WEDDING - 30th SEPTEMBER1967 - GREENSIDE CHURCH
     L-R:  Thomas Tweddell (Grooms father) Jennie (Jean) Stafford (Bride's Mother)

               Jillian Tweddell (Groom's Niece) Allan Tweddell (Groom) Pauline Tweddell

               (Bride nee Stafford) Dorothy Stafford (Bridesmaid) Ian Tweddell (Best Man)

               Florence Tweddell (Mother Ian & Allan) Norman Stafford (Brides Father)

 Bride Pauline aged 21 - 30th September 1967 

Three months after Pauline's wedding in January 1968 Dorothy Married Ian Tweddell at the same church with her sister Pauline as 'Matron of Honour'

DOROTHY'S WEDDING - JANUARY 1968 
With Dad Norman with his two beloved daughter's

DOROTHY'S WEDDING JANUARY 1968 TO IAN TWEDDELL (TWO SISTERS MARRIED TWO BROTHERS)

L-R:  Thomas Tweddell (Grooms father) Jennie (Jean) Stafford (Bride's Mother) 

         Ian Tweddell (Groom) Dorothy Tweddell (Bride nee Stafford) Harry Tweddell

        (Brother & Best Man) Florence Tweddell (Mother of Ian Allan & Harry 

        

ELISE'S CHRISTENING 1978

Pauline's first and only child and Grandchild

     L-R: Phil Hartnell Dorothy Hartnell (nee Anderson - my cousin) 

            Dorothy Tweddell (Aunt) Jennie (Jean) Stafford Grandma  

                                   

For almost 10 years Elise brought unprecedented happiness to Jennie (Jean) and Norman, as did Jennie and Norman to Elise as can be seen from these photographs -

1978 "Happiness is a Grand-daughter - Grandma Stafford Jennie) with Baby Elise who is very interested in Grandma!

1978 I'm a Grandpa! -  Norman aged 68 with his new baby Grand-daughter - Elise likes his joke!

September 27th 1980 Elise's 2nd Birthday
What joy in being able to blow out your candles on your
Birthday cake made by Grandma who is holding on
Aunt Dorothy clapping her hands and Grandpa is just so happy!

Give a bairn some water and a Grandpa (and Grand-daughter) and the world is perfect

When you get tired a quick cuddle from Grandpa "is just the ticket"

Happiness is doing the dishes with your Grandma!

It's that water thing again - Grandma Stafford (Jennie) with her 'perfect' grand-daughter - she later taught her to swim

Probably the last photograph taken of Elise with Grandpa and Grandma

Sadly nothing stays the same (that is life isn't it). Even though Jennie (Jean) was 7 years younger than Norman she died before him. Jennie was born on the 17th August 1917 and died on the 22nd December 1987 at the age of 70.  Norman died on the 10th October 1991 at the age of 81.  

                                     

William & Janet Clark's Children - Janet - Luke & Janet's Children - Jenny - How and Where George Died

In 2006 I began sorting through old photographs of the Dent side of the family when I came across the photographs of George, it took me back to a day in the early 1960s, as a teenager, scratting around the sideboard drawers; an occupation I occasionally did when I was bored! Whereupon, I found a tiny brooch containing an equally tiny photograph of George.  

I believe my mam is proudly wearing it in this photograph.  It really saddens me that it was lost when my parents house was cleared out after my dad died.

Mrs Jennie Pattison aged 22

I asked my mam who it was, she told me it was her first husband who was killed in the war."  I asked why she hadn't told my sister and I, but she said she didn't want to upset our dad which was understandable. I asked her what George was like, and she said he was a lovely man.  After this I remember Grandma Dent once mentioning George when we were visiting, so I suppose my mam must have told her about my discovery, however, I never got to know much information about George.

I don't think I understood at the time the heartache my mam must have suffered, so I decided to see if I could find any information regarding where George died.  I found his Commemoration on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. It was sad to see that neither his parents nor my mother appeared on it, so I decided to see if I could get it amended.  It was not straight forward as I was not a blood relative, but after obtaining a copy of their marriage certificate, and obtaining a copy of George's Birth Certificate I managed to get it updated 

I discovered that Athens Memorial records the name of men who were killed in action for the defence of Greece and Crete who have no known graves, which led me to believe that in 1941 George was one of those brave men who were involved in the Battle for Crete. 

Italy's invasion of Greece in October 1940 was followed by  Germany's invasion in April 1941, leading to 42,000 allies being evacuated to Crete.
http://www.madeincrete.com/crete-world-war-2-invasion-resistance-liberation/

German Flag being raised at the Acropolis Greece 1941

British Troops being evacuated on to Crete 1941

Troops on Crete with Fixed Bayonets May 1941

On the morning of 20th May 1941, Germany launched an airborne assault along the northern coast of Crete, using paratroopers and gliders.  British, Australian, New Zealand and Greek forces were not organised into a single formation and had only light weaponry, limited transport, artillery and signals equipment. German forces soon captured Crete's Maleme Airfield and began to land supplies and reinforcements.

Allied troops and Cretan civilians fought valiantly on for several days, but Allied commanders were forced to order the evacuation of the island. The Royal Navy began a rescue operation on the 28th May, but German air and sea attacks caused many casualties. The Royal Navy lost three cruisers and six destroyers and a further 16 vessels were badly damaged.  By 1st June 1941 the evacuation was complete.  I believe George lost his life, on one of these ships, along with many other soldiers. 

Statistics tell us that more than 1,700 British, Commonwealth and Greek soldiers were killed and 15,000 were captured during The Battle For Crete.  More than 6,000 Germans were killed or wounded. 

William & Janet Clark's Children - Janet - Janet & Luke's Children - Jenny - George is Missing

On the 21st November 1941 a brown War Office envelope was posted to Jennie at Lincoln House, 586 West Road, Denton Bank, Newcastle upon Tyne  It contained notification that "Gunner Pattison, George Alexander" was posted as 'missing' on the 2nd June 1941 - it took a few weeks before Jennie received the notification which was originally dated 8th July 1941 at Foots Gray Sidcup Kent, and then was received by the Record and Pay Office also at Foots Gray on the 11th September 1941, it was then forwarded to The Casualty Branch of the War Office where it was posted on the 21st November 2041 containing the devastating news that George was 'missing'. 

The terrible stress this brown envelope contained was confirmation of the undoubted fear that Jennie must have been experiencing when she hadn't heard from George.  At this time he could have been taken prisoner or been killed.  It also must have been hard for Grandma and Grandpa to see their young daughter having to live with such a heavy heart.

Just over a year later, Jennie must have written to her Uncle Carlos in Peru, informing him that George was still 'missing.'  Carlos replied on the 7th March 1943.  It is a lovely letter, beautifully written to his "Dear niece Juanita."

"Mrs Jennie Pattison
586 West Road
N/c on Tyne
England

My dear niece Juanita:

It has been an unexpected and very nice surprise for me receiving your kind letter dated (?)well I see you forgot to date it.  It was sent by Hilda to Caraz, a far place up in the hills where I went some months ago. It crosses with me when I was coming back home and returned to Lima by the P.O so I have read it.

I know now that the nice little girl I used to play with and called me "Tio Carlos" is at present a young married lady.  Sincerely I wish you may have some good news about your hubby.

We are here both with good health remembering you all daily.  Very sorry with your hard times and delighted the last news about the war victories in the Pacific, Russia, Africa etc, and expecting every morning that the invasion of the Continent has begun.  So you will know that Peru was the first South American country to break relations with the Axel on January 1943, so your worries and joys are also ours.

Do you remember when you used to eat "mani" when your dad killed the "conejos" (rabbits) and dear mamy Janet put you on slippers to climb all over. I close now my eyes and see clear that house in Magdelena and you in."

"After I got bad my stomach and suffer fourteen years; it is only four years past and operation and I am well at all. I am working now on an "anthracita" (coal) business and travelling between Lima and Caraz a nice village 500 kilometers from Lima and 3,000 meters 'high over sea' of the Andes, at the feet of the eternal snow.  Their rains like in England sometimes day after day, but when it is clear the suns come strongly too. everything is great over their, vegetation, storms, could or heat, peins and voinds, the mounts and the river, and the sickness to. I am sure you will like this place.

Well dear Juanita please give my best regards to Lukey and Janet, to Lilly, Willhemena and Hellen [Aunty Ellen] and do not forget to visit your loving uncle.

Carlos A Terry

Carlos A Terry
Clachaga 
Lima Peru              ps please excuse my bad English"

William and Janet Clark's Children - Janet - Janet & Luke's Children - Jenny - First Marriage to George Pattison

When George met Jennie

In 1939 at the age of 22 Jennie Dent met George Alexander Pattison aged 30 who lived at 15 Rye Hill Newcastle upon Tyne.

When War was declared on the 3rd September 1939 George was working near Scotswood, but he knew his 'call-up' would be imminent because he had been a professional soldier. Notably on their Wedding Certificate it states his occupation as Gunner in the Royal Artillery. So, like many young people, in time of war, no time was wasted in getting married.

George first asked Luke Dent's permission to marry Jennie, but, because her mother Janet, was helping to look after evacuees in Carlisle (her young son Billy was with her) he wrote to her asking permission to marry Jennie. It is a lovely letter, but, with hindsight, it is heartbreaking. Grandma must have said yes as George and Jennie were married on the 21st October 1939 at Newcastle Registry Office. How long Jennie and George had together before he was 'called up' I don't know, but if it was, as he believed, the 29th that he had to leave for war, they could have had only had 8 days together. 

 George and Jennie's Wedding Day - 21st October 1939

There are only three photographs of Jennie and George's wedding, one taken at Newcastle upon Tyne Registry Office on the 21st October 1939, the other two were taken outside 6 Shaftoe Street Scotswood, where Janet and Luke lived.  My sister asked my mother what colour her wedding suit was, apparently it was salmon pink.

By Special Licence at Newcastle upon Tyne Registry Office on the 21st October 1939  R-L Best Man, George, Jennie and Bridesmaid 

Wedding Group Outside 6 Shaftoe Street
Best Man, George. Jennie, Unknown Lady, Bridesmaid, Janet and Billy 

21st October 1939 - George, Jennie, Janet and Luke

Notably George's parents 'are conspicuous by their absence' in these photographs.  Apparently they did not approve of his marriage to Jennie, so did not attend their only child's wedding. My mam told me the photographs and certificates were the only things she was left with as George's parents cruelly came and took everything away that belonged to him. I am sure my mam must have been heart-broken.

Shaftoe Street Today

As you can see behind the above wedding group Shaftoe Street consisted of two streets, sadly some years ago the side of Shaftoe Street where Jennie and her family lived was demolished.  This was hard to understand, as you can see from the Google Earth picture, they are fine substantial housing (built as flats).

In 1939 Scotswood was a vibrant community, but had its heart ripped out years later by planners who appear to have taken a "scorched earth policy" to the area, demolishing houses and not replacing them. The bottom right of this picture, where the fencing is, is approximately where the above wedding photographs were taken.

William and Janet Clark's Children - Janet - Janet & Luke's Children - Jenny - Gunner George Alexander Pattison

George was a professional soldier, a Gunner in the Royal Artillery (No 811211).  He served in Hyderabad (Sind Province) India. 

Circa 1930s - Durham Royal Garrison Artillery (Hartlepool?)
 George is probably one of these soldiers.  

Now in India Circa 1934 George (Second Row lst Right) with Army Colleagues Sind Province India 

Circa 1934 George sitting middle with Army Colleagues

The Station's Football Team George Centre Front

George in Football Kit - India Circa 1934 

George Left & Colleagues

I wonder if this was the Regimental Mascot?

Royal Artillery Circa 1934 on maneuvers Sind Province India

George's Testimonial whilst in Sind Province India

In 1934 George, aged 25, took Exams in English Mathematics Map Reading and Army and Empire