jørgen christian jensen (1891-1922) - corporal
Jørgen Christian Jensen emigrated to Australia at the age of 18.
For his bravery during the First World War, he was awarded the Victorian Cross, the most prestigious award given to British and Commonwealth forces.
For his bravery during the First World War, he was awarded the Victorian Cross, the most prestigious award given to British and Commonwealth forces.
Emigration to Australia
|
Jørgen Christian Jensen was born on 15 January 1891 in Løgstør, Denmark. He emigrated to Australia in March 1909, arriving in Melbourne, working as a labourer at Morgan and Port Pirie, South Australia, and eventually settling in Adelaide.
In 1914, he became a British citizen (the Australian Citizen Act did not come into place before 1949) and in March the following year he joined the Australian Military Forces. He was initially posted to the 6th Reinforcements for the 10th Battalion in Gallipoli in August 1915 and was moved from Egypt to France in March 1916. |
|
victoria cross
The Victoria Cross was given to Jørgen for ‘most conspicuous bravery and initiative’ when he was just 26 years old.
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. |
The Victoria Cross - the highest form of recognition that can be bestowed on a soldier for remarkable and unselfish courage in the service of others.
|
(Source: Australian War Memorial)
Later that day, Noreuil was captured. Jensen was awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts, 2 April, 1917.
full military honours
Grave of Corporal J. C. Jensen, War Cemetery, West Terrace, Adelaide
Jørgen rose to the rank of corporal but in May 1918 he was seriously wounded. Upon his return to Australia he was immediately discharged as medically unfit for service. He found work at a hotel in Truro, South Australia and later as a marine-store dealer in Adelaide. He married Katy Herman (nee Arthur) in 1921.
Sadly, his war-time experiences led to alcoholism and in 1922, aged just 31, Jørgen died at Adelaide Hospital. He was buried at West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide with full military honours in the AIF part of the cemetery. A horse-drawn gun carriage carried his body and it was reported as one of the largest military funerals ever held in Adelaide.
Jørgen's Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial. In his Danish hometown of Løgstør, a statue has been erected in his memory in a local park.
Sadly, his war-time experiences led to alcoholism and in 1922, aged just 31, Jørgen died at Adelaide Hospital. He was buried at West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide with full military honours in the AIF part of the cemetery. A horse-drawn gun carriage carried his body and it was reported as one of the largest military funerals ever held in Adelaide.
Jørgen's Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial. In his Danish hometown of Løgstør, a statue has been erected in his memory in a local park.