Private Joergen Christian Jensen

Service number 2389
Birth Date 15/01/1891
Birth Place Denmark: Nordjylland, Logstor
Death Date 31/05/1922
Death Place Australia: South Australia, Adelaide, St Peters
Final Rank Private
Service Australian Imperial Force
Units
  • 10th Australian Infantry Battalion
  • 50th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Joergen (Jorgan) Jensen was born in Denmark. He came to Australia as a young man and was naturalised in 1914. He enlisted in the 10th Battalion and was sent to Gallipoli in September 1915. Following the evacuation he transferred to the 50th Battalion.

In Noreuil, France, when an Australian advance was checked by a manned enemy barricade, Jensen threw in a bomb and rushed the post. He then threatened the occupants with two more bombs, having extracted the pin of one of them with his teeth, and forced their surrender. A prisoner was sent to a neighbouring enemy party to demand their surrender, but they were fired on by the Australians. Jensen stood up, ignoring the danger, and waved his helmet until the firing ceased. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts, 2 April 1917.

On 5 May 1918, while on patrol near Villers-Bretonneux, Jensen was severely wounded and was eventually invalided to Australia. Still troubled by war injuries, he died in Adelaide in 1922.

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 15/01/1891
Other 1914 Naturalised as an Australian.
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) 23/03/1915 Reinforcement to 10 Battalion.
Date wounded 08/1915 Wounded at Gallipoli.
Other units 02/1916 50 Battalion.
Date promoted 04/04/1917 Appointed Lance Corporal.
Date promoted 07/1917 Appointed Corporal.
Date of recommendation honour or award 10/04/1917
Date promoted 05/11/1917 Appointed Sergeant.
Date of honour or award 02/04/1917 Awarded Victoria Cross for action at Noreuil, France whilst serving with 50 Battalion, 13 Brigade, 4 Division as a Private
Date of discharge 12/12/1918
Date wounded 05/05/1918 Severely wounded on patrol near Villers-Bretonneux.
Date of death 31/05/1922