Patrick was a Captain in one of the armed services at the time he became engaged to Vera Knibbs, but as yet I've been unable to ascertain which service.
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From the Bristol Evening Post - 07 June 1976:
Fair success - despite stick in the mud.
A canal boat stuck in the mud with passengers aboard during the week-end fair to mark the reopening of Widcombe Locks, Bath.
Passengers scrambled to the bank and used ropes to try and pull the boat free on Saturday night. It was finally refloated by owner, Mr Tom Lavender, yesterday morning.
Hundreds of families saw demonstrations by Westavon Sub Aqua Club, Morris dancing by the Somerset Maids group, a model railway exhibition and many other displays.
Mr Patrick Dening treasurer for the Bath branch of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust which organised the fair said: “We hope to have raised some £300 towards further restoration work".
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Patrick's father, Douglas Montgomery Dening was born in 1877 at Bayswater, London, England. He was the son of Reverend Thomas Henry Trickey Dening and Florence Cole O'Halloran. He married Mary Elizabeth Glenton-Kerr on 7 September 1904 at St. John's, Brixton, Surrey, England.2 He died on 7 November 1922 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by drowning.
He gained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the King Edward's Horse. He fought in the First World War. He gained the rank of Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps, in the air balloon arm. He was awarded the Military Cross (M.C.) in 1918 (see below). He was a shipping agent with the Anglo South American Insurance Company.

From the Flight International Magazine, 1 August 1918:
Temp. Lieut. DOUGLAS MONTGOMERY DENING, R.A.F.—For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. With a party of men, five of whom had already been wounded, he repeatedly returned to a balloon position, which was being heavily shelled, to save stores and supervise the removal of the balloon. Owing to the roads being under heavy fire he was unable to effect his purpose until the following day, when he went up again, although subjected to heavy fire, and succeeded in getting the balloon and other stores safely away.

From the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - 03 August 1918:
At the investiture held at Buckingham Palace on July 25th among those whom the King decorated with the Military Cross was Lieut. Douglas Dening, R..A.F., son of the Rev. Henry Dening and Mrs. Dening, of London, late of St. Werburgs, Bristol.

Joan's mother's maiden names was Soanes.