The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Second Lieutenant Francis Ernest Jensen, 28 Battalion, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Nicholas Schmidt, the story for this day was on Second Lieutenant Francis Ernest Jensen, 28 Battalion, First World War.

Second Lieutenant Francis Ernest Jensen, 28th Battalion
DOW 13 September 1915
Photograph: P01507.001

Story delivered 20 December 2013

Today we remember and pay tribute to Second Lieutenant Francis Ernest Jensen, whose photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

Frank Jensen was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1881 to Carl and Frances Jensen. The family moved to Australia when Frank was a boy, although little is known of his early life. When he was 18 years old, Frank joined the New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen to go and fight in the South African War. He served throughout the war, and returned with the rank of sergeant and a silver medal with five bars.

Following his return to Australia, Jensen moved to Sandstone, Western Australia and became a prospector and miner. He married Alice Hatton, and they had three children: Carl (known as Frankie), Mary, and Ernest. His daughter, Mary, now aged 100, is still alive today.

The First World War began in 1914, and in March 1915, when it became clear that the war would not be over as quickly as many predicted, Frank Jensen enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. He was posted to the 28th Battalion, and within weeks was commissioned a second lieutenant. It had been clear that he was "something of a soldier, and well qualified by experience ... to assume commissioned rank". He was placed in charge of C Company of the 28th Battalion.

After a period of training in Australia and Egypt, the 28th Battalion arrived on Gallipoli on 10 September 1915. Within days of their arrival they were holding a part of the front line known as the Apex, at the top of a Chailak Dere, a steep gully. C Company was one of the first to arrive, and as they moved into the trenches on the evening of 12 September Lieutenant Jensen was dangerously wounded by a gunshot to the face.

He was taken to the New Zealand 7th Field Ambulance station, where he eventually succumbed to his wounds, dying on 13 September 1915. His grave was lost in the confusion of the evacuation from Gallipoli, and today Lieutenant Frank Jensen is commemorated there on the Lone Pine Memorial to the missing. He was 33 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Second Lieutenant Francis Ernest Jensen, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.