Person

Born in Darlington in 1885, Joseph Dent was one of nine children born to John and Elizabeth Dent. Joseph grew up in Darlington before moving to board in West Hartlepool sometime before 1911. Unlike his father and some of his siblings who worked as engine fitters or iron moulders, Joseph worked as a baker.

Joseph married Rebecca Milde on 20 January 1912 and at some point began living in Barnard Castle. Rebecca was originally from Norway, born in Bergen in 1886. In 1910 she is listed on a Norwegian census as not living with her family, perhaps working as a housemaid. Joseph and Rebecca had one daughter, Greta Dent, born on 22 September 1913. Three years later they had a son, Joseph Dent, born on 5 July 1916, who Joseph sadly would never meet.

Joseph belonged to the Society of Friends (Quakers), many members of whom did not fight during the war due to their pacifist beliefs. Joseph had been worshipping as part of a Wesleyan Congregation for some years before the war and resigned his membership of the Quakers in order to sign up. At the time of his enlistment Joseph was the proprietor of a café in Galgate, Barnard Castle.

He enlisted into the 17th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in Barnard Castle on 26 September 1914. Initially a private, he was quickly promoted to a lance corporal on 28 November 1914. Following training Joseph was transferred to the 15th Battalion and joined the Expeditionary Force in France on 9 October 1915. Joseph was killed in action on 23 January 1916, only four days before his brother, Henderson.

Joseph is buried in the Military Cemetery in Armentieres. A letter was received by Joseph’s wife from the Wesleyan minister for the battalion. It describes how the service, carried out by the Rev G. H. Crossland, was attended by some of Joseph’s comrades. Joseph is remembered on several memorials in Darlington and also on an obelisk at Bowes Museum. Bowes Museum have researched local men for a First World War project and more information on local men, including Joseph, can be found on their website:

https://www.thebowesmuseumww1.org.uk/

A newspaper from the Teesdale Mercury records further information about Joseph:

http://www.teesdalemercuryarchive.org.uk/

Following Joseph’s death, Rebecca Dent returned to Norway to live with her parents. Included in the service records is correspondence between the family and the British Consul in Norway asking whether Rebecca would still receive a pension if she was living in Norway. It was decided that she would receive this pension which began in August 1915. By the time of the 1939 Register Rebecca was living in Guildford although it is not known when she returned to England. She had not remarried and was living with her daughter, Greta.

Civil Parish: Barnard Castle

Birth date: 1885

Death date: 23-Jan-1916

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 14 Zetland Street, Darlington (1891, 1901 Census)
25 Penzance Street, West Hartlepool (1911 Census)
34 Newgate, Barnard Castle (Service Records)

Education: Albert Road School

Religion: Quaker (Service Records)

Employment: Baker (1901, 1911 Census, Service Records)
Proprietor Norek Café, Galgate, Barnard Castle (Newspaper article)

Family: Parents: John Dent, Elizabeth Dent nee Henderson
Siblings: John W Dent, Frederick Dent, Herbert Dent, Edward Dent, Henderson Dent, Annie Isabel Dent, Elizabeth Dent, Mary Dent
Wife: Rebecca Dent nee Milde
Children: Greta Dent, Joseph Dent

Military service:

Durham Light Infantry, 17th, 15th Battalion
Lance Corporal
Service Number 20151

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): ROH 1914-18 Albert Road School, Darlington (Now at Darlington Public Library)
ROH 1914-18 Darlington Library
DLI Book of Remembrance, Durham Cathedral
Roll of Service 1914-18 St Mary’s, Newgate (Now at Durham Record Office)
Obelisk 1914-18, 1939-45 Bowes Museum

Gender: Male

Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham | Helen Bond, great-granddaughter