Jørgen Christian Jensen
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Jørgen Christian Jensen VC (15 January 1891 – 1922) was a Danish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Jensen was born in Løgstør, Denmark the third child of Four. He emigrated to Australia in March 1909, after making his way to Britian by working on board the ships, he was aged 18, he became an Australian citizen on 7 September 1914. He served in the Australian armed forces between 1915 and 1918.
He was 26 years old, and a private in the 50th Battalion (S.A.), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 2 April 1917 at Noreuil, France, Private Jensen, with five comrades, attacked a barricade behind which were about 45 of the enemy and a machine-gun. One of the party shot the gunner and Private Jensen rushed the post and threw in a bomb. Then, with a bomb in each hand, he threatened the rest and made them surrender. He sent one of his prisoners to another group of the enemy, ordering them to surrender, which they did, but our troops began firing on them, where-upon Private Jensen, regardless of danger stood on the barricade waving his helmet, and the firing stopped. He then sent his prisoners back to our lines.
Upon returning to Australia he worked at the Truro Hotel, Truro, South Australia where he met Katy Herman, a married women who was managing the Hotel. Katy lated became divorced from her husband, Joseph Louis Herman, and later married Jensen. Katy Had two daughters from her Previous Marriage, Lois Kathleen and Elsa Audrey.
Jensen worked as a Rag'n'Bone man in the inner city of Adelaide, South Australia until his death.
He was carried on a horse drawn gun carriage down Sturt Street to the cemertary. The funeral was attended by many many people.
He died in Adelaide, Australia in 1922 and is buried at the West Terrace AIF Cemetery . His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial.
Joergen Christian Jensen is remembered by his family in Australia and Denmark.
In Logster Denmark there is a Statute erected in his memory in a park.
