Heslop’s Local Advertiser 15/5/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Stanley Jensen was born in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland in 1890, one of 7 known children, he was the youngest son of 4 and had 3 sisters. His father, a farmer’s son, Hans Jorgen Jensen was born at Aabenraa, Denmark, where he was baptised April 16th 1843. He had been brought to England by his parents in 1852 and was married, July 22nd 1872, in the Parish of Tynemouth Priory, to 21-year-old Helen Walker Cunningham, born August 16th 1851, native of Tynemouth and daughter of a Master Mariner. Their eldest son Richard born in 1874 died the following year, however by 1881 they had a daughter Eliza Helen and were living at 16, Keelman’s Row, Hans Jenson was employed as a labourer, to increment the household income they had a lodger, 32-year-old painter, William Cummins. By the time Stanley was one-year-old they had moved to 9, Second Street, Wallsend, his father now worked as a weigh-man at the colliery, his sister Eliza (15) was an apprentice milliner, brother George (8) and sister Annie (6) were scholars, his youngest sister Maggie was born in 1892
Stanley’s mother died in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1898, aged just 47 years, when he was only 8 years old. Two years later his father remarried at Newcastle to Jane Ann Rankin born 1854 at Alnwick, Northumberland. In 1901 they were living at 89, Bolam Street, Byker, near Newcastle, Stanley’s father was employed as a storekeeper at a paint factory working at the same premises was his brother George (18) as a clerk.
Jane Ann Jensen nee Rankin had died by 1911, Hans Jensen had moved with his family to 12, York Terrace, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, now the proprietor of a newsagents. Assisting him was daughter Maggie (18) whilst George (28) was employed as a general labourer and Stanley (21) was an assistant at a store selling cutlery and surgical instruments as well as being an optician.
On the outbreak of war Stanley Jensen enlisted at Barrow-in-Furness, assigned as Private 24203 to the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers attached to the 9th Brigade, 3rd Division. He did not depart to France until after January 1916 and joined his regiment in the field undergoing preparations for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme. The 1st battalion Northumberland Fusiliers saw action at the Battle of Albert July 1st-13th 1916 during which the Allied forces captured Montauban, Mametz, Fricourt, Contalmaison and La Boiselle.
Private 23203 Stanley Jensen was killed in action July 8th 1916, (details concentration document) his body buried on the battlefield and marked with his military details. His remains were found, May 3rd 1919, during the clearing of the battlefields, by the 113th Labour Company at map reference S. 20. b. 5. 2. along with 2 Privates of the Dorset Regiment. His body was exhumed and brought into Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz, Somme, France where he was interred with all honour and reverence, grave VIII. H. 4. He was 26 years old and single.
It should be noted that the CWGC have adopted the date of July 12th 1916 as the date of his demise and his service number as 23203 whilst concentration documents listing details from the cross which marked his original burial place state July 8th 1916 and service number 24293
His father received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at his home address of 23, Ridley Terrace, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
Hans Jorgen Jensen died at Gateshead in 1920 aged 77 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 15/05/1917 carries an In Memoriam notice which reads:
“Private Stanley Jenson, (sic) N.F., killed in action, 14th July 1916. Son of H.J. and the late Helen Jenson, 23 Ridley Terrace, Felling.”
He is remembered in the Battalion History
