Joergen (Jorgan) Christian JENSEN VC

Badge Number: 32705
32705

JENSEN, Joergen (Jorgan) Christian

Service Number: 2389
Enlisted: 23 March 1915, Keswick, South Australia
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 50th Infantry Battalion
Born: Loegstoer, Denmark, 15 January 1891
Home Town: Morgan, Mid Murray, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: War related injuries, Adelaide, South Australia, 31 May 1922, aged 31 years
Cemetery: AIF Cemetery, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia
Row 4 W, Grave 3 adjacent to three other VC Winners ,
Memorials: Adelaide 150 Jubilee Commemorative Pavement Plaques - WW1 VC Recipients, Adelaide Torrens Training Depot, Keith Payne VC Memorial Park, Men from Renmark and District Roll of Honor Boards (4), North Bondi War Memorial, Winchelsea WWI Memorial
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World War 1 Service

23 Mar 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2389, Keswick, South Australia
23 Jun 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2389, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1
23 Jun 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2389, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide
12 Aug 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2389, 10th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
2 Apr 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion
14 Aug 1916: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2389, 50th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières
2 Apr 1917: Honoured Victoria Cross, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages
4 Apr 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 50th Infantry Battalion
6 Oct 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 2389, 50th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres,

Returned from attachment to the 7th Training Battalion in England

12 Dec 1918: Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 2389, 50th Infantry Battalion

RENMARK WELCOMES RETURNED HEROES.

Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA: 1913 - 1942) Friday 13 December 1918
RENMARK WELCOMES RETURNED HEROES.
CPL. JENSEN, V.C. AND PTE. HAUSLER D.C.M.
Thanks to the courtesy of the proprietors of Eroni's Circus Renmark people were enabled to welcome to this town Cpl. Jensen, V.C. and Private Hausler, D.C.M., on Friday November 29. The first intimation that Cpl. Jensen was to come to Renmark was a wire received on Thursday night and as it was not known how long he would remain here immediate steps had to be taken to ensure for him as fitting a welcome as possible in the short notice. Eroni Bros. Circus happened to be in the town and the proprietors readily assented to the proposal to devote a few minutes at the half time interval for the purpose. There was a tremendous house and the V.C. hero was cheered and cheered again. Cr. F. Southall (chairman of the Town District Council) took charge of the proceedings and expressed the delight of the people of Renmark to have the opportunity to do honour to Cpl. Jensen and also to Pte. Hausler, D.C.M., of Morgan, who had accompanied his friend. They were also very pleased to see back at Renmark Pte. Bernard Williams. Cpl. Jensen enlisted on August 6, 1914, two days, alter the war Broke out, while Pte. Hausler enlisted before he was 18 years old and was deferred. Ren mark offered to them both its sincerest congratulations. They were proud they belonged to the Empire and proud they came from the river.
Mr. H. S. Taylor, who supported Cr. Southall, said he was highly privileged by being asked to speak for Renmark on such an occasion. Cpl. Jensen before he went away was working on the river boats. Many brave men had gone from this district and few of them had not earned a decoration. But Victoria Crosses were awarded only for deeds of extraordinary gallantry and bravery. The official notice concerning Cpl. Jensen stated that "With five comrades he attacked a barricade, which was sheltering 45 of the enemy and a machine gun. An Australian shot the gunner, and Jensen then single-handed rushed the post and threw in a bomb. Jensen had a bomb in one hand, and drew out the pin for a second bomb with his teeth. He threatened the enemy with both, telling them they were surrounded, and inducing them to surrender. He sent a prisoner to order a neighbouring party to surrender. They capitulated. Another party of our troops fired on them in ignorance that they were prisoners, and Jensen, regardless of personal danger stood up and waved his helmet, a signal which stopped the firing. He then sent his prisoners to the rear. Jensen showed extraordinary bravery throughout.
Cpl. Jensen, was not Australian born but he became naturalized so that he could fight as an Australian. Like several of the gallant men who had gone from Renmark to the war, he was a Dane by birth and probably felt, too, that he had some old scores to wipe off for his country and doubt- less felt glad that there was every prospect now that Denmark would get back portion of the land that Prussia stole from her. Pte. Hausler was born on the river, though not in Renmark, and they were proud to have him among them. Pte. Bernard Williams was a Renmark boy who had been stretcher bearing, a duty that entailed the most dangerous and difficult work. He was glad to be able to pass on to him Renmark's congratulations on his safe return.

In reply Cpl. Jensen said he was glad to have been able to help smash Germany and would gladly do it again, and Pte. Hausler said that he, like Pte. Williams, was a stretcher bearer and had been awarded his decoration for non-combatant work under dangerous circumstances. Subsequently the distinguished visitors were given the opportunity of meeting several returned soldiers at Hisgrove's Cafe, where refreshments were provided by the Patriotic Committee. They left Renmark for Morgan on Tuesday.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109224654

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Victoria Cross Citation

Near Noreuil France

'For most conspicuous bravery and initiative when, with five comrades, he attacked a barricade, behind which were about 45 of the enemy and a machine gun. One of his party shot the gunner, and Private Jensen, single handed, rushed the post, and threw in a bomb. He had still a bomb in one hand, but taking another from his pocket with the other hand he drew the pin with his teeth, and by threatening the enemy with two bombs and by telling them that they were surrounded, he induced them to surrender. Private Jensen then sent one of his prisoners to order a neighbouring enemy party to surrender, which they did. This latter party was then fired on in ignorance of their surrender by another party of our troops, whereupon Private Jensen, utterly regardless of personal danger, stood on the barricade, waved his helmet caused the firing to cease, and sent his prisoners back to our lines. Private Jensen's conduct throughout was marked by extraordinary bravery and determination.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61
Date: 23 May 1919

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Biography contributed by Robert Kearney

 

Jensen, Joergen Christian (1891–1922)
by H. J. Zwillenberg

Joergen Christian Jensen (1891-1922), soldier, was born on 15 January 1891 at Loegstoer, Denmark, son of Joergen Christian Jensen, farmer and wool merchant, and Christiane, known as Jensen. Nothing is known of his childhood. He migrated to Australia alone in March 1909, having spent the previous year in England. After disembarking in Melbourne he worked as a labourer at Morgan, South Australia, and at Port Pirie, and was naturalized on 7 September 1914 in Adelaide.

Jensen enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force on 23 March 1915, was posted to the 6th Reinforcements for the 10th Battalion and joined his unit at Gallipoli in August. The battalion left the peninsula on 22 November for a rest period at Lemnos and did not return before the evacuation.

To read more please use link below

https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/jensen-joergen-christian-6841 (adb.anu.edu.au)

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