Jørgen Jensen (VC)
| Jørgen Christian Jensen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
15 January 1891 Løgstør, Denmark |
| Died |
31 May 1922 (aged 31) Adelaide, South Australia |
| Buried at | West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide |
| Allegiance |
 Commonwealth of Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1918 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 50th Battalion |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Jørgen Christian Jensen VC (15 January 1891 31 May 1922) was a Danish-born Australian 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.
Early life
Jensen was born in Løgstør, Denmark, the third of four children. In 1908, he moved to England before he emigrated to Australia in March 1909 and worked in Australia for the next five years. A month after the war commenced, he was naturalised a British subject at Adelaide, South Australia, on 7 September 1914.[1]
Military career
Jensen served in the Australian Military Forces between March 1915 and December 1918 rising to the rank of Corporal.
When he was 26 years old and a private in the 50th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force during the First World War, 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.[2]
In May 1918, Jensen was severely wounded whilst on patrol after the retaking of Villers-Bretonneux.
Post-War
Upon returning to Australia Jensen was discharged medically unfit for further service and began work at the Truro Hotel in Truro, South Australia. He later married Katy Herman.
Jensen later worked as a marine-store dealer in the inner city of Adelaide, South Australia until his death from war related injuries in 1922. His body was carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage to the West Terrace Cemetery and he was buried with full military honours in the AIF section of the cemetery. It was reported as "one of the most impressive funerals which have passed through the gates of the West Terrace Cemetery" and "probably one of the largest military funerals ever held in Adelaide."
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial. In Løgstør, Denmark, there is a statue erected in his memory in a park.
Notes
- ↑ He became a British subject in 1914 because there was no Australian Citizenship Act until 1949.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30122. p. 5705. 8 June 1917. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
External links
- The Register, Adelaide, Saturday June 3rd 1922 p10.
- The Advertiser, Adelaide, Saturday June 3rd 1922 p14.
- H. J. Zwillenberg, 'Jensen, Joergen Christian (1891–1922)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 9, Melbourne University Press, 1983, pp 482–483.
- Jørgen Jensen at Find-A-Grave
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