Jørgen Jensen (soldier), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetJørgen Jensen (soldier)
Recipient of the Victoria Cross
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Løgstør Municipality, North Denmark Region, Denmark
About Jørgen Jensen (soldier)
- Jørgen Christian Jensen, (15 January 1891 – 31 May 1922) was a Danish-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in battle that could be awarded to a member of the Australian armed forces.
- Jensen emigrated to Australia in 1909, becoming a British subject at Adelaide, South Australia, in 1914.
- A sailor and labourer before World War I, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in March 1915, serving with the 10th Battalion during the latter stages of the Gallipoli campaign.
- After the Australian force withdrew to Egypt, Jensen was transferred to the newly formed 50th Battalion, and sailed for France with the unit in June 1916.
- On the Western Front, he was wounded during the battalion's first serious action, the Battle of Mouquet Farm in August, and only returned to his unit in late January 1917.
- On 2 April, his battalion attacked the Hindenburg Outpost Line at Noreuil, where his actions leading to the capture of over fifty German soldiers resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross. In June 1917, the 50th Battalion was involved in the Battle of Messines; the following month, Jensen, now a corporal, was posted to a training unit in the United Kingdom.
- He returned to his battalion in October, and was promoted to temporary sergeant in November.
- In March 1918, the German Spring Offensive was launched, and Jensen fought with his battalion at Dernancourt and Villers-Bretonneux.
- Shortly after the fighting at Villers-Bretonneux, Jensen was on patrol when he received a severe head wound, and was evacuated to the United Kingdom, then repatriated to Australia, where he was discharged in Adelaide at the end of the war.
- He worked as a marine store dealer and married in 1921, but died the following year.
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