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Early in 1951, a 23-year-old Col enlisted in the Citizens Military Force (CMF) and was allotted to 11th Field Regiment, then at Kelvin Grove Barracks. The CMF was rapidly expanding at that stage to accommodate the National Service Training Scheme in which all 18-year-old males were obliged to complete three months full-time training followed by two years in the CMF. By May 1952, Col had been promoted to Sergeant and welcomed the first graduates from Wacol, Brisbane’s 11th National Service Battalion to their initial CMF camp. By early 1954, Col had been promoted to Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) and was persuaded to accept a commission.
On 30 April 1954, Col was appointed a lieutenant in the field branch of the Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) and returned to his old unit 11th Field Regiment. With the expansion and reorganisation of RAA units the 11th became 5th Field Regiment in 1955. Col was promoted Captain in 1956 but with yet another restructure, Col was posted to the Reserve of Officers in 1960. He returned to 5th Field Regiment as Troop Commander of C Troop of Q Battery at Kelvin Grove. |
| Despite a very keen mind and vast enthusiasm, Colin Jensen had a marvellous relaxed approach to soldering. ‘professional nonchalance’ is a term that aptly described him. He never appeared to become flustered, and his apparent slow response to a ‘What next?’ question was undoubtedly a mask for a mind running at a hundred miles an hour to come up with a solution. Col was adored by his Diggers whilst his senior NCOs and officers gave him a well-deserved loyalty.
Col rose through a fairly standard progression in the CMF – Battery Captain (BK) of P Battery in Brisbane from late 1962, Battery Commander (BC) of the same sub-unit on promotion to temporary major in 1963, second in command (2IC) of 5th Field Regiment in 1965 and then Commanding Officer (CO) of the Regiment in 1968. Along the way he underwent the obligatory staff training postings and ended his career about 1974 with the Command and Staff Training Group. His departure from the part-time military system was a loss to the RAA.
Col also had a full-time career with the Brisbane City Council (BCC). Undoubtedly, his thorough, likable and relaxed approach was also appreciated within the Council, for hie rose to executive level. When he had endured enough of bureaucracy, he and his wife Ailsa became House Parents and ran the Ronald McDonald House facility at Mater Hill in South Brisbane. The combination of administrative experience in the BCC and methodical planning, execution and man-management skill from the CMF made Col a heralded success in this third career. On retirement, Col and Ailsa moved to Bli Bli on the Sunshine Coast. |
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Col never forgot his military roots. In the earlier years after separation from the Army, he could always be relied upon to turn up for CMF Old and Bold nights and unit reunions. In later years, his full head of silver hair would always be seen at the funeral of older soldier with whom he had served. Col died on 16 June 2005 and was cremated privately however a Requiem Mass was held at St James Catholic Church at Coorparoo on Wednesday 22 June 2005. He was survived by his widow Ailsa, children and in-laws Desley and Daryl, Barrie and Shelley, grandchildren Melanie and Clare and great grandchild Sienna. |
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| Acknowledgments: |
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- Compiled from notes of the late Arthur Burke
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- Input to those notes from David Burgess
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