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Jørgen Jensen (soldier)

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Main page Jørgen Christian Jensen, VC (15 January 1891 – 31 May 1922) was a Danish-
Jørgen Christian Jensen
Contents born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in
Featured content battle that could be awarded to a member of the Australian armed forces. Jensen
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emigrated to Australia in 1909, becoming a British subject at Adelaide, South
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Australia, in 1914. A sailor and labourer before World War I, he enlisted in the
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Wikipedia store Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in March 1915, serving with the 10th Battalion during
the latter stages of the Gallipoli campaign. After the Australian force withdrew to
Interaction Egypt, Jensen was transferred to the newly formed 50th Battalion, and sailed for
Help France with the unit in June 1916. On the Western Front, he was wounded during the
About Wikipedia battalion's first serious action, the Battle of Mouquet Farm in August, and only
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returned to his unit in late January 1917. On 2 April, his battalion attacked the
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Hindenburg Outpost Line at Noreuil, where his actions leading to the capture of over
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fifty German soldiers resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross.
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In June 1917, the 50th Battalion was involved in the Battle of Messines; the following
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month, Jensen, now a corporal, was posted to a training unit in the United Kingdom. Corporal Jørgen Jensen, August 1918
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He returned to his battalion in October, and was promoted to temporary sergeant in Born 15 January 1891
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Special pages November. In March 1918, the German Spring Offensive was launched, and Jensen Løgstør, Denmark

Permanent link fought with his battalion at Dernancourt and Villers-Bretonneux. Shortly after the Died 31 May 1922 (aged 31)
Page information Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, Jensen was on patrol when he received a Adelaide, South Australia
Wikidata item severe head wound, and was evacuated to the United Kingdom, then repatriated to Buried West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide
Cite this page Australia, where he was discharged in Adelaide at the end of the war. He worked as a Allegiance Australia

marine store dealer and married in 1921, but died the following year. Service/branch Australian Imperial Force
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Years of service 1915–1918
Create a book Contents [hide] Rank Corporal
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1 Early life Unit 10th Battalion (1915–1916)
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2 World War I 50th Battalion (1916–1918)
In other projects 3 Post-war Battles/wars World War I

Wikimedia Commons 4 Footnotes Gallipoli Campaign

5 References Western Front
Languages 5.1 Books Awards Victoria Cross
Dansk 5.2 News
Edit links 5.3 Websites
6 External links

Early life [ edit ]

Jørgen Christian Jensen was born on 15 January 1891 in Løgstør, Denmark, the son of Jørgen Christian Jensen and Christiane
Sørensen, who was apparently also known as Jensen.[1][2] Sørensen was a single mother who worked in agriculture. His early life was
difficult, but he was a good student, and entered the fishing industry.[3] In 1908, aged 17, he travelled to the United Kingdom before
emigrating to Australia. He sailed to Melbourne in March 1909,[1][4] then moved to Morgan, South Australia, and later Port Pirie, working
respectively as a sailor on river steamers on the Murray River, and as a labourer. He was naturalised as a British subject in Adelaide on 7
September 1914.[1][4][5]

World War I [ edit ]

On 23 March 1915, Jensen enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for service in World War I; he was allotted to the
6th reinforcements to the 10th Battalion.[1][6] His reinforcement draft embarked on HMAT Borda at Outer Harbor on 23 June, and joined
the battalion at Gallipoli, Turkey, on 4 August.[7] By the time Jensen arrived, nearly half of the battalion had been evacuated sick with
dysentery.[8] For the remainder of the Gallipoli campaign, the 10th Battalion rotated through various positions in the line defending the
beachhead until withdrawn to Lemnos in November.[1][9][10] Jensen remained with his unit throughout, except for a week in September–
October that he spent in hospital.[11] The battalion embarked for Egypt in late November and spent the next four months training and
assisting in the defence of the Suez Canal. While in Egypt, the battalion was split into two, one half forming the nucleus of the new 50th
Battalion, which was part of the 13th Brigade, 4th Division.[12] In April 1916, Jensen and several other 10th Battalion men were
transferred to the 50th Battalion; later that month Jensen was charged for not being in his tent at tattoo.[11] On 5 June the battalion
embarked for France, arriving in Marseilles six days later. The unit then entrained for the Western Front, entering the trenches for the
first time on 28 June near Fleurbaix.[1][13]

The 50th Battalion saw its first serious action during the Battle of Mouquet Farm in mid-August 1916.[14] During the battle, the 50th
Battalion suffered 414 casualties, largely from the heavy German artillery bombardment.[15] On 14 August, Jensen had joined the
casualty lists, hit in the left shoulder by a piece of shrapnel. He was evacuated to the UK and admitted to Graylingwell War Hospital in
Chichester, West Sussex. While in the UK, he was charged with more disciplinary infractions in September, December and January, on
one occasion being sentenced to 28 days field punishment for missing the troop train to return to France, and on another serving 12
days detention for being absent without leave.[16] He did not rejoin his unit until 28 January 1917.[11]
The 50th Battalion continued to rotate through front line, support and reserve positions, and underwent training in rear areas.[17] The
battalion was also involved in pursuing the Germans as they withdrew to the Hindenburg Line of fortifications. On 2 April, the 13th
Brigade attacked the Hindenburg Outpost Line at Noreuil.[14] The attack consisted of the 51st Battalion attacking the village from the
north, and the 50th Battalion from the south.[18] During this assault, which was preceded by a weak artillery barrage, the 50th Battalion
suffered extraordinary difficulties, and the centre company, to which Jensen belonged, was forced to detach a party of men equipped with
a large number of hand grenades (then known as bombs) to deal with a strongly barricaded German post that was holding out between
their company and the one on their right. Jensen was a member of this party.[19] His actions during the reduction of this post resulted in a
recommendation for the Victoria Cross,[1] the highest award for gallantry in battle that could be awarded to a member of the Australian
armed forces at that time.[20] He was assisted in his actions by Private William Quinlan O'Connor and four others.[21] The
recommendation read:[22]

At Noreuil on 2nd April 1917, this man took charge of five men and attacked a barricade behind which were 40/50 Germans
with a machine gun. One of his men shot down the German gunner. Jensen who is a Dane, then rushed the whole post
singlehanded and threw a bomb in. He had still a bomb in one hand and taking another from his pocket he drew the pin with
his teeth. Threatening them with two bombs, he called on them in German to surrender and bluffed them that they were
surrounded by Australians. The enemy dropped their rifles and gave in. Jensen then sent a German to tell another enemy
party who were fighting our Stokes Gun to surrender and they too gave in. A different party of our men then saw these
Germans for the first time and began firing on them. At considerable risk, Jensen stood up on the barricade, waved his
helmet, and sent the German prisoners back to our line under an escort of lightly wounded men.

During the assault on Noreuil, Jensen also freed Australian prisoners, and assisted in the "mopping-up" of German resistance in the
village itself when he captured a German officer or non-commissioned officer, who pointed out which building the fire was coming from.[23]
The 50th Battalion suffered 360 casualties, including 95 dead, and captured 70 Germans, nearly all of whom were taken by Jensen and
his party.[24] O'Connor was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his part in capturing the German post.[21] On 4 April, Jensen
was promoted to lance corporal.[1][16] His award of the Victoria Cross appeared in The London Gazette on 8 June,[22] by which time the
50th Battalion was involved in the Battle of Messines,[14] suffering 149 casualties.[25] After being relieved, the battalion continued its
rotation through front line, support and reserve positions.[17]

In July 1917, Jensen was temporarily promoted to corporal and transferred to the 13th
Training Battalion at Codford in the UK as an instructor. While there he was
entertained by Danish residents of Kingston upon Hull.[26] After another disciplinary
infringement, he returned to France, rejoining his battalion on 6 October. He was
temporarily promoted to sergeant in early November, and the battalion went through
the winter of 1917–18 rotating through the front line.[1][27][28] In late March 1918, the
battalion left its rest area and along with many other Australian units was quickly
deployed to meet the German Spring Offensive south of the River Ancre. On 5 April,
the battalion took up positions at Dernancourt and there contributed to the defeat of
the "largest German attack mounted against Australian troops during the war" during Jensen (standing second from right), during his
repatriation to Australia in August 1918, along with
the Second Battle of Dernancourt.[14] nine other VC recipients
The fighting at Dernancourt was followed by a move to the Villers-Bretonneux sector,
where, on 25 April, the battalion was part of the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux that drove the Germans from that village,[14][28] at a
cost to the battalion of 254 casualties.[29] On 5 May, Jensen was on patrol near Villers-Bretonneux when he was shot in the head.
Severely wounded, he was admitted to hospital in France, and on 18 May was evacuated to the UK, where he was admitted to the
Richmond Military Hospital in Surrey.[1][30]

Jensen reverted to the rank of corporal on being evacuated. Following two weeks' leave, he was repatriated to Australia along with nine
other Victoria Cross recipients in August 1918, to take part in a recruiting campaign on the invitation of Prime Minister Billy
Hughes.[1][31][32] He disembarked in Adelaide on 11 October, and was discharged from the AIF on 2 December.[33] He was assessed to be
partially disabled, and received a small pension.[3] For his service during the war, as well as his Victoria Cross he was issued the 1914–
15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.[34]

Post-war [ edit ]

After his discharge, Jensen worked for a short time as a barman in Truro,[35] then as a
marine store dealer in Adelaide. He married Katy Herman (née Arthur), a divorcée, at
the Adelaide Registry Office on 13 July 1921.[1] Their marriage was heavily affected by
his wartime experiences.[35] In April 1922, a photograph of Jensen and his horse-
drawn cart, with "J. C. Jensen V.C." painted on the side, was published on the front
page of The Sunday Times newspaper in Sydney; the caption noted that he employed
several men in his business.[36] On 28 May, Jensen was admitted to the Adelaide
Hospital, and died of congestion of the lungs three days later, aged 31.[1][37][35]

On 2 June, his casket was carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage to the West Terrace
Cemetery, followed by hundreds of former members of the 50th Battalion, 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",[38] and "probably one of the largest military funerals ever
held in Adelaide".[39] The pastor at the service said that Jensen was, "modest always...
ever ready to enlarge on the bravery of others, without touching on his own
accomplishments".[35] His medal set, including his Victoria Cross, was donated by a
family member to the Australian War Memorial in 1987 at a ceremony attended by
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and is displayed in the Hall of Valour of the
memorial.[40][41] In 2006, a memorial to Jensen was unveiled in Løgstør by the Grave marker of Jørgen Jensen at the West
Terrace AIF Cemetery, Adelaide
Australian ambassador to Denmark, and a book about him was published in Denmark
in the same year.[3][42] Each year wreaths are placed at the memorial in memory of
Jensen, and in 2014 a wreath was placed by the Australian ambassador, Damien Miller.[43]

Footnotes [ edit ]

1. ^a b c d e fg h i j k l m Zwillenberg 1983. 15. ^ Bean 1941, p. 770. 31. ^ National Archives 2017, pp. 24–25.
2. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 1. 16. ^ a b National Archives 2017, p. 10. 32. ^ Australian War Memorial 2018.
3. ^ a bc Damsgaard 26 October 2006. 17. ^ a b Freeman 1993, p. 303. 33. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 54.
4. ^ a b Wigmore & Harding 1986, p. 78. 18. ^ Bean 1937a, p. 209. 34. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 66.
5. ^ Murray Pioneer And Australian River 19. ^ Bean 1937a, pp. 212–213. 35. ^ a bc d Blanch & Pegram 2018, p. 124.
Record 1 November 1918, p. 4. 20. ^ Wigmore & Harding 1986, p. 9. 36. ^ The Sunday Times 23 April 1922, p. 1.
6. ^ National Archives 2017, pp. 1–4. 21. ^ a b Staunton 2005, p. 73. 37. ^ Wigmore & Harding 1986, p. 79.
7. ^ Lock 1936, p. 109. 22. ^ a b Australian War Memorial 2017c. 38. ^ The Register 3 June 1922, p. 10.
8. ^ Lock 1936, p. 51. 23. ^ Bean 1937a, pp. 213 & 215. 39. ^ The Advertiser 3 June 1922, p. 14.
9. ^ Lock 1936, pp. 50–53. 24. ^ Bean 1937a, p. 219. 40. ^ Australian War Memorial 2017d.
10. ^ Australian War Memorial 2017a. 25. ^ Bean 1937a, p. 682. 41. ^ The Canberra Times 3 February 1987,
11. ^ a bc National Archives 2017, p. 8. 26. ^ Daily Post 12 September 1917, p. 5. p. 3.
12. ^ Lock 1936, pp. 53–55. 27. ^ National Archives 2017, pp. 21 & 24. 42. ^ Lokaltindblik 11 November 2006.
13. ^ Freeman 1993, p. 302. 28. ^ a b Freeman 1993, p. 304. 43. ^ Lokaltindblik 6 November 2014.
14. ^a b c d e Australian War Memorial 29. ^ Bean 1937b, p. 637.
2017b. 30. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 12.

References [ edit ]

Books [ edit ]

Bean, C.E.W. (1941). The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1916. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. 3 (12 ed.).
Sydney, New South Wales: Angus & Robertson. OCLC 220898466 .
Bean, C.E.W. (1937a). The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. 4 (5 ed.).
Sydney, New South Wales: Angus & Robertson. OCLC 216975066 .
Bean, C.E.W. (1937b). The Australian Imperial Force in France, during the Main German Offensive, 1918. Official History of Australia
in the War of 1914–1918. 5 (1 ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Angus & Robertson. OCLC 17648469 .
Blanch, Craig; Pegram, Aaron (2018). For Valour: Australians Awarded the Victoria Cross. Sydney, New South Wales: NewSouth
Publishing. ISBN 978-1-74223-542-4.
Freeman, R. Roger (1993). Hurcombe's Hungry Half Hundred: A Memorial History of the 50th Battalion A.I.F. 1916–1919. Norwood,
South Australia: Peacock Publications. ISBN 978-0-909209-61-2.
Lock, Cecil (1936). The Fighting 10th: A South Australian Centenary Souvenir of the 10th Battalion, A.I.F. 1914–19. Adelaide, South
Australia: Webb & Son. OCLC 220051389 .
Staunton, Anthony (2005). Victoria Cross . Prahran, Victoria: Hardie Grant. ISBN 978-1-74273-486-6.
Wigmore, Lionel; Harding, Bruce A. (1986). Williams, Jeff; Staunton, Anthony, eds. They Dared Mightily (2 ed.). Canberra, Australian
Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. ISBN 978-0-642-99471-4.

News [ edit ]

"A South Australian V.C. is Back to Everyday Work" . Sunday Times (1891). New South Wales, Australia. 23 April 1922. p. 1.
Retrieved 4 August 2017.
Damsgaard, Lasse (26 October 2006). "Australsk ambassadør afslører mindesmærke" [Australian ambassador unveils memorial].
Nordjyske Stiftstidende online (in Danish). Retrieved 23 May 2018.
"Dane's VC to go to Memorial" . The Canberra Times. 61 (18, 750). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 February 1987. p. 3.
Retrieved 4 August 2017.
"Den australske ambassadør i Danmark aflægger besøg i Løgstør" [The Australian ambassador in Denmark is visiting Løgstør].
Lokaltindblik online (in Danish). 6 November 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
"Højtidelig fejring af løgstøriansk krigshelt" [Solemn Celebration of Løgstørian War-Hero]. Lokaltindblik online (in Danish). 11
November 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
"Personal" . The Advertiser. South Australia. 3 June 1922. p. 14. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
"The Last Journey" . The Register. LXXXVII (25, 408). South Australia. 3 June 1922. p. 10. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
"Two South Australian V.C.'s" . Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record. 24 (44). South Australia. 1 November 1918. p. 4.
Retrieved 4 August 2017.
"V.C. Hero Entertained" . Daily Post. X (211). Tasmania, Australia. 12 September 1917. p. 5. Retrieved 4 August 2017.

Websites [ edit ]

"10th Australian Infantry Battalion" . Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
"50th Australian Infantry Battalion" . Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
"NAA: B2455, Jensen Jorgan Christian" . National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
"Caption of a photograph taken aboard the troopship Medic, Melbourne Australia, October 1918" . Australian War Memorial.
Retrieved 23 March 2018.
"Private Joergen Christian Jensen" . Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
"Victoria Cross : Private J C Jensen, 50 Battalion, AIF" . Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
Zwillenberg, H.J. (1983). Jensen, Joergen Christian (1891–1922) . Australian Dictionary of Biography. 9. Canberra, Australian
 Capital Territory: Melbourne University Press. Retrieved 2 August 2017.

External links [ edit ]

Media related to Jørgen Christian Jensen at Wikimedia Commons

Authority control GND: 133398803 · VIAF: 23327969 · WorldCat Identities (via VIAF): 23327969

Categories: 1891 births 1922 deaths Australian Army soldiers Australian World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
Burials at West Terrace Cemetery Danish emigrants to Australia People from Vesthimmerland Municipality

This page was last edited on 2 April 2019, at 16:23 (UTC).

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