Local Heroes WW1

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(Corp) Joergen (Jorgan) Christian Jensen V.C.

Corporal Joergen (Jorgan) Christian Jensen  12389, a Labourer from Port Adelaide, South Australia, prior to enlistment 23 March 1915 aged 24, he embarked with the 10th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A30 Borda on 23 June 1915.

Recolourised Portrait of 2389 Corporal Joergen Christian Jensen VC

ID number     H06203
Collection     Photograph
Object type     Black & white - Print silver gelatin

Description

PORTRAIT OF 2389 CORPORAL JOERGEN CHRISTIAN JENSEN VC, 50TH BATTALION (LATE 10TH BATTALION). JENSEN, BORN AT LOEGSTOER DENMARK IN 1891, HAD MIGRATED TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA IN 1909.

Biography
Birth date:     15 January 1891
Birth place:     Denmark: Nordjylland, Logstor
Death date:     31 May 1922
Death place:     Australia: South Australia, Adelaide, St Peters
Final rank:     Private
Service number:     2389 - First World War, 1914-1918
Units:     

    10th Australian Infantry Battalion
    50th Australian Infantry Battalion

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 warinjuries, he died in Adelaide in 1922.

Noreuil, France

Collection     Photograph
Object type     Black & white - Glass original half plate negative
Photographer     Unknown
Place made     United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made     21 August 1918

Description

Informal portrait of 2389 Corporal Joergen Cristian Jensen VC, 50th Battalion (late 10th Battalion). He was awarded the Victoria Cross as a Private for most conspicuous bravery and initiative when, with five comrades, he attacked a barricade behind which were about forty five of the enemy and a machine gun on 2 April 1917 at Noreuil, France. Note the four service stripes on the right sleeve.

ID number     H00175
Collection     Photograph
Object type     Black & white - Print silver gelatin
Photographer     Abrahams, S T
Places made     

    United Kingdom: England
    United Kingdom: England, Dorset, Weymouth

Date made     c August 1918

Description

A montage of nine portrait photographs taken at Westham camp. In the centre is a group portrait of fifteen Australian soldiers and is surrounded by individual portraits of eight of the men who are in the group portrait all of whom had been awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). The central group portrait numbers correspond with the numbers around the edge of the photo. Identified left to right 1 Lance Corporal (L Cpl) John Carroll; 2 Corporal (Cpl) Jorgan Christian Jensen; 3 Cpl Thomas James Bede Kenny; 4 Sergeant (Sgt) Reginald Ray Inwood; 5 Sgt John Woods Whittle; 6 Sgt Stanley Robert McDougall; 7 Cpl Philip Davey; 8 Sgt Walter Peeler. The officer at middle row, second from left, is Major Elliot Frank Playford OBE, 43rd Battalion and Camp Commandant of Westham Camp.

ID number     072966
Collection     Photograph
Object type     Black & white
Physical description     Black & white

Description

Port Melbourne, Vic. 1918. Australian Victoria Cross winners from World War 1 invited by the Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable W. M. Hughes, to return home to assist in a recruiting campaign. The photograph was taken as the ship HMAT Medic was berthing. The identified men are, from the left; front row, 506 Sergeant R. R. Inwood, 10th Infantry Battalion; 4061 Sergeant S. R. McDougall, 48th Infantry Battalion; second row not identified; third row, 2060 Lieutenant J. J. Dwyer, 4th Machine Gun Company; 958 Lieutenant L. Keysor, 42nd Infantry Battalion; 1946 Lieutenant W. Ruthven, 22nd Infantry Battalion; back row, 114 Sergeant W. Peeler, 3rd Pioneer Battalion; 4195 Corporal T. J. B. Kenny, 2nd Infantry Battalion; 2902 Sergeant J. W. Whittle, 12th Infantry Battalion; 2389 Corporal J. C. Jensen, 50th Infantry Battalion; 1804 Private J. Carroll, 33rd Infantry Battalion.

Joergen Christian Jensen V.C. (1891–1922)

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. Jensen moved from Egypt to France in March 1916. On 14 August he was wounded in action and after recovering was transferred to the 50th Battalion on 28 January 1917.

Jensen won the Victoria Cross for 'most conspicuous bravery and initiative' on 2 April at Noreuil, one of the 'outpost villages' of the Hindenburg line. During its long advance towards the village the 50th Battalion came under enfiladed fire from a German forward machine-gun post which caused heavy casualties. Jensen, covered by another private, rushed the post with bombs. After eliminating the machine-gun crew with one of his bombs he threatened to throw the others and bluffed the German position into surrendering, taking about forty prisoners. Later that day, after a fierce fight, Noreuil was captured. Jensen served from July to October with the 13th Training Battalion and returned to the 50th on 6 October; he had been promoted lance corporal on 4 April, corporal on 4 July and temporary sergeant on 5 October. He was seriously wounded on 5 May 1918 while on patrol near Villers-Bretonneux and was invalided to Australia on 26 August.

Jensen was discharged from the A.I.F. in Adelaide on 12 December 1918 with the rank of corporal. After demobilization he worked as a marine store dealer. He married Katy Herman, née Arthur, at the Adelaide Registry Office on 13 July 1921. Jensen died of war-related injuries in Adelaide Hospital on 31 May 1922. His wife later remarried.
- by H. J. Zwillenberg This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 9, (MUP), 1983

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. - Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record Friday 13 December 1918

THE LAST JOURNEY....Passing of Cpl. J.C. Jensen, V.C.

 

The path of glory leads but to the grave. But it ivas a splendid pathway along which Cpl. Jensen, V.C.— his gallant body enshrouded in the proudest flag of all, the Union Jack — passed on his final sad journey to his last resting place at the A.I.F. Cemetery, West terrace, on Friday afternoon. The sidewalks of Sturt street, which leads directly into the main gates   of the cemetery, were thronged with people, who were anxious to pay their last respects to one of Australia's heroes, and the children of the Sturt Street Public School stood rank upon rank, silent- and bareheaded, in the brilliant sunshine. The cortege was long and impressive. The coffin, shrouded in the Union Jack, was borne upon a gun carriage, drawn by a splendid team of black horses, in charge of fully accoutred members of the A.S.C. On top of the coffin were the deceased's hat, belt, and medals. Marching four   abreast immediately in the rear of the re- mains came hundreds of men who had served with Cpl. Jensen, and right in front was Mr. Sammy Lunn, bareheaded, and stepping out firmly with the rest. A long line of carriages brought up the rear of one of the most impressive funerals which have passed through the gates of the West Terrace Cemetery.

— At the Graveside. —

Nothing could be more solemn or yet stirring than a military funeral, and it is at the graveside that this fact makes itself most apparent. Crowds were wait- ing to witness the final service long before the arrival of the cortege. As the coffin, borne by six bearers, was reverently car- ried from the guncarriage to the grave every hat in the big assemblage came off as one. Even the distant whistles and clamour of the railway yards at Mile-End seemed temporarily stilled. The fine words of the burial service was read by Pastor W. Janzow, after which Padre G. T. Walden, who served throughout the war with the deceased soldier, delivered a fine eulogy regarding him. There were many pathetic scenes as the remains were slowly lowered to the grave, but interrupt- ing those came the three times repeated crash of the rifles of the firing party in charge of Sgt. F. H. Dormer. Then out upon the still air rang the stirring notes of the ' 'Last post,' played by Bbdr. M. A. Waloscheck, R.A.F.A. As the last echo died away a train went past with a rattle and a clank, its whistle shrilled energetically and suddenly the sounds of humming industry in the distance became audible again as the tension relaxed. Thus was the body of Cpl. Jorgen Christian Jensen, born in Denmark, but a true-blue British subject, laid in its last resting   place. Among those present at the service were Brig.-Gen. Weir, D.S.O., 10th Battalion;   Col. C. P. Butler (representing the R.S.A.); Col. F. W. Hurcombe, CO., 50th Battalion: Major H. Glover (representing the Base Commandant, Major Page); and Lieut. C. A. Stevens (repre- senting Brig.-Gen. Leane, G.O.C., 3rd Infantry Brigade). - The Register Saturday 3 June 1922

ID number     131849
Collection     Photograph
Object type     Black & white
Photographer     Walshe, J N
Physical description     Black & white

Description

ADELAIDE, SA. 1946-09-26. GRAVE OF 2389 CORPORAL J. C. JENSEN VC, DIED 1922-05-31, SHOWING UNIT COLOUR PATCH AND STANDARDISED LAYOUT OF TABLET, AT THE WAR CEMETERY, WEST TERRACE.

Memorial in honour of Jørgen Christian Jensen

This monument was raised in honour of the former citizen of Løgstør, Jørgen Christian Jensen. The monument was unveiled on November 11th, 2006 at 11 AM. The precise time was chosen in order to mark the connection Jørgen Jensen had to World War 1, which ended at this exact moment in 1918.

Jørgen Christian Jensen was born in Løgstør in 1891 and when he was 16 he went sailing. He ended up in Australia where he settled down and found work. He enrolled in the Australian army in 1915 and was sent into battle shortly thereafter.

April 2nd, 1917 became a unique day - both in Danish military history and certainly in the life of the young Danish-Australian. Along with five buddies Jørgen Jensen snuck up to an enemy unit of around 50 or 60 men. One of his buddies shot the guard manning the machinegun and Jørgen Jensen threw a handgranate. Following this Jørgen Jensen, armed with a granate in each hand, forced the enemy unit, and the one next to it, to surrender.

Based on this accomplishent Jørgen Jensen was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest British military order, which is awarded for great bravery in the presense of the enemy. The Victoria Cross was presented by King George V.

Towards the end of the war the former citizen of Løgstør was seriously wounded and returned to Australia. Jørgen Jensen got married and had various small jobs until he died in 1922 - in part due to the serious injuries he suffered during the war. He was burried as a hero in Adelaide where several hundred people attended the funeral.

Local Commemoration

Semaphore

The Semaphore War Memorial on the Esplanade was dedicated in 1925 to honour all of those from the district who fought in the war. A temporary ‘Memorial Arch’ of wood and iron was first erected at the entrance to the Semaphore Jetty bearing the banner title, ‘For King & Empire’. On 27 April 1924, four foundation stones for the new memorial were laid at the approach to the jetty – one on behalf of the citizens of Port Adelaide district, one for the returned soldiers and sailors, one on behalf of the parents of the fallen men, and one on behalf of the widows and orphans.

The following year, a granite obelisk was erected on the foundation stones, with an electric ‘turret type’ clock and topped by a marble Angel of Peace with wings outspread. The local newspaper noted, “all the names of those who enlisted from the district or who made the supreme sacrifice cannot be placed on the monument” so it instead bears a simple commemorative plaque.

On 27 April 1924, four foundation stones for the Semaphore War Memorial were laid at the approach to the jetty – including this stone laid by Colonel Charles Philip Butler DSO (ex-43rd Battalion AIF) on behalf of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers such as Corporal Joergen Christian Jensen.

Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL

For the 2015 commemoration of the Anzac Centenary, the Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL has created a Virtual Honour Board listing the names of over 2,000 local men who volunteered to serve in World War 1. Among them are counted Joergen Christian Jensen a Labourer from Port Adelaide and a wounded veteran of service in Gallipoli / Villers-Bretonneux and a Victoria Cross Recipient.

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