Ingvarson, Jens Edward Valdemar Karl
1661 Sergeant Jens Edward Valdemar Karl Ingvarson DCM & Bar - 44th Battalion AIF
Jens (later known as Jack) was born in Breve Denmark on the 23rd December 1894 to Jens and Pauline Ingvarson, being one of four siblings in the family.
Both is parents died in 1905 while he was still young and Jens soon took to the ocean for work, initially working mainly around Europe but in 1913 he was on a ship that had left South America and had arrived in Western Australia. During a shore visit to Fremantle, Jens left his ship and did not return. He soon found work in the Fremantle district.
Jens was naturalised in 1916. His naturalisation form states that he had been working at Bibra Lake since 1913 for a Mr. W.R. Kenack and then Bassett and Titterton, also of Bibra Lake.
The work he was doing at Bibra Lake was as a Dairyman.
On the 12th February 1916 Jens enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording Jens physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 9 inches tall;
Weight - 145lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-36 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Very Fair.
Upon his successful enlistment Jens was sent to Claremont Showgrounds Camp and was assigned to the Infantry Training Depot. He was then assigned to the 1st Reinforcements to the 44th battalion AIF. The 1st Reinforcements and the 44th battalion trained together at Claremont, as well as Osborne (present day Swanbourne)
Jens trained with the 1st Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion for the next few months in WA while they waited for the departure orders to arrive. These finally came though and on the 6th June 1916 the 44th Battalion and the 1st Reinforcements boarded the transport ship HMAT Suevic in Fremantle Harbour. The journey to England took just over six weeks and the ship arrived at Plymouth Harbour on the 21st July 1916.
After being disembarked the 44th Battalion were sent to the 3rd Division Training area on the Salisbury Plains and remained there till November 1916. During this time the men were also given leave and Jens would have seen London or other parts of England.
During the training period in England, quite a few of the 44th battalion men were sent to France to reinforce other Australian units, so the men of the 1st Reinforcements, including Jens were taken on strength of the 44th Battalion. Jens officially joined them on the 13th October 1916.
On the 25th November the 44th Battalion arrived at Southampton Harbour where they boarded a transport ship for the journey across the Channel to France. After their arrival they were sent to the Armentieres region where they remained until March 1917.
On the 13th March 1917 the 44th Battalion conducted a trench raid on German positions. Jens took part in the action and was wounded when shrapnel hit his arm. Fortunately the wound was not severe, and Jens remained for just a few weeks at the 11th Field Ambulance. His wound was patched and he remained under observation for a few weeks but soon returned to the 44th battalion on the 11th April 1917.
In April 1917 the 44th Battalion were transferred to Ploegsteert in southern Belgium. The 44th Battalion spent the next few months in the Ploegsteert sector. In June 1917 the Messines offensive commenced with the 44th Battalion seeing action in the successful operation. They had conducted a trench raid a few days prior to the attack commencing but then also took part in the Messines action.
On the 11th June 1917 Jens was slightly wounded but remained on duty.
Jens and the 44th Battalion remained at Messines till August 1917. The 44th Battalion then moved to Ypres in September 1917. He subsequently served through the Third Battle of Ypres from September to November 1917 seeing action at Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele and came through safely. On the 7th October Jens had been promoted to lance Corporal and then on the 27th October to Temporary Corporal. On the 20th November 1917 this rank of Corporal was confirmed.
The following day Jens was promoted to Temporary Sergeant. Eight days later on the 29th November 1917, Jens was sent to the 10th Field Ambulance with synovitis of the left elbow. He was treated and returned to the 44th Battalion on the 8th December 1917.
From December 1917 to March 1918 the 44th Battalion held the line in Belgium south east of Ypres, between Hollebeke and Messines. During this time on the 9th January 1918 Jens was confirmed in the rank of Sergeant.
As a result of the German offensive on March 21st 1918 which broke through the British front line further south, the Australian Divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop the German advance. The 44th Battalion were sent to an area near the Somme River at Sailly-le-Sec and Sailly Laurette. The 44th Battalion advanced till they met the Germans in the field near Sailly Laurette and though the German fire stopped the 44th from advancing, the Germans were also stopped.
Jens and the 44th Battalion were in this sector for the next few months. On the 4th July 1918 the 44th Battalion took part in the successful capture of Hamel village. Jens came through this action unscathed and was decorated for his bravery. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, with the official recommendation reading;
On the 4th July 1918, During the attack on enemy positions east of Hamel, this NCO was a Platoon Sergeant. On his platoon commander becoming a casualty early in the advance, he assumed command and led his men with great dash and initiative, gaining the final objective and immediately establishing a strong point. When the enemy counter attacked and temporarily occupied portion of the front line trenches on the night of 4th/5th July 1918, Sgt Ingvarson at once organised a bombing section to work down the trench, and at the same time placed a Lewis Gun in position to cover the party. This enterprise was most successful, the bombers succeeding in ejecting the enemy from the trenches, the enemy then being cut by the fire from the Lewis Gun and many casualties inflicted on them. This NCO showed great dash and determination, and by his conspicuous gallantry set a magnificent example to his comrades.
For the next few weeks, the 44th Battalion remained in the Hamel and Villers-Bretonneux sector. On the 8th August 1918 the 44th Battalion took part in the successful advance from the Villers-Bretonneux front and they took their objectives.
The 44th Battalion advanced continually for the next several weeks, seeing action around Bray, Clery and Peronne. By the 29th September 1918 the 44th Battalion were at the Hindenburg Line defences. The 44th Battalion was involved in the attack for the next few days but again Jens came through safely. It was their last action of the war and for his actions in this battle Jens was once again recommended for his bravery. He would be awarded the Bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which means he was awarded the DCM twice. The official recommendation read;
On the 29th September 1918 during the operations against the Hindenburg Line, south of Bony, whilst advancing with his Platoon against intense enemy machine gun and artillery fire, Sergeant Ingvarson, finding that the Platoon was held up by a nest of enemy machine guns, jumped out of a trench and rushed a distance of 100 yards in face of heavy fire, firing his rifle as he ran. He threw bombs amongst the enemy and succeeded in killing many, captured eight machine guns and two prisoners. The splendid courage shown by Sergeant Ingvarson and his prompt action and gallantry in rushing forward against such odds removed a dangerous obstacle to the advance of his Company and inspired others with the utmost confidence. He continued on the 29th and the 30th September to do excellent work in several bombing attacks with resulted in clearing several hundred yards of the Hindenburg Line.
The 44th battalion were then withdrawn for a rest period and they were still out of the line when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918. When the Germans withdrew to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German held parts of Belgium and France.
However on the 27th October 1918 Jens was sent to England for a period of duty with the 9th Training Battalion. He was still based here when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918. Jens would be with the 9th Training Battalion until the 29th January 1919. He then returned to France and rejoined the 44th Battalion AIF.
Jens spent the next nine weeks in France with the 44th Battalion. On the 6th April 1919 he then returned to England. After a few weeks in camp in England, on the 23rd April 1919 he was granted a period of leave after which he reported back to camp in June 1919.
On the 21st June 1919, Jens boarded the transport ship Kongin Louise and set sail for Australia, arriving at Fremantle on the 3rd August 1919. He was discharged from the AIF on the 17th September 1919.
After coming home Jens returned to Bibra Lake and resumed dairy farming.
In 1920 Jens married Alice Ellen Gundry in Fremantle and a son Julius was born in 1921, Pauline in 1922 and Nellie in 1923.
Jens continued his dairy farming through the 1920's and 30's and the February 1929 issue of the Fremantle Advocate mentions that Jens bought a Chevrolet milk delivery vehicle for his business.
In 1932 the family was living at 7 Pilbarra Street White Gum Valley and Jens was working as a Milk Vendor.
He also was on the 44th Battalion Committee, of which there were yearly reunions through the 1930's as well as being a member of the Returned and Service league. The Western mail in the 1930's carried news of 'Yak' as he was known to his fellow soldiers of the 44th Bn.
The magazine of the NSW Returned and Services League also carried an article in their 1938 edition of "Yak Ingvarson".
Prior to the Second World War, Jens was working as a Motor Driver and the family were living at 116 Mary Street Fremantle (later renamed to Solomon Street).
On the 5th August 1940 Jens enlisted for service in the Second World War. He was given the rank of Sergeant and was sent to the Naval Base Training Depot. In October 1940 he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class II and was posted to the 3rd Training Battalion at Northam Army Camp.
In June 1942 Jens was posted to the 26th Labour Company and served at places such as Rottnest Island, Broome, Davilak and Kalgoorlie.
Jens was discharged from the Army in March 1944.
Jens wife Alice died in 1990 and Jens died on the 28th October 1992 aged 97. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.
In 2015 Jens Ingvarson had one of the Artillery Barracks Cottages named after him