Private Joergen Christian Jensen

Service number 2389
Birth Date 1891-01-15
Birth Place Denmark: Nordjylland, Logstor
Death Date 1922-05-31
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
Gazettes Biographical information They dared mightily. in 1963
Published in London Gazette in 1917-06-08
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-05-23
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

  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    50th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    First World War, 1914-1918
    Rank
    Private
    London Gazette
    08 June 1917 on page 5705 at position 1
    Commonwealth Gazette
    23 May 1919 on page 878 at position 2
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Unit
    50th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    First World War, 1914-1918
    Rank
    Private

Timeline

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