AMES, Gordon William

Family Name:

Ames

Given Names:

Gordon William

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

1945

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age/ Age Range:

20 years old

Location:

VIC, Edithvale

Occupation:

House Painter

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector, Pacifism Religious

Reason for Court Appearance:

Application for full exemption from military duties

Court Name and Location:

Magistrates Court, Melbourne

Court Hearing Date:

19 August 1965

Court Outcome:

Granted full exemption from military duties

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Gordon Ames was a 20-year-old House Painter from Edithvale a suburb of Melbourne. He was a member of the Church of God. He applied during 1965 for full exemption from military duties based on his Christian pacifism. His hearing was in the Magistrates Court, Melbourne before Magistrate B Walsh. He was asked how long he had been a member of the Church of God, how often he went to church and whether he agreed that certain Bible verses were open to interpretation. He was also asked whether was prepared to perform non-combatant military duties. Gordon responded that he would not be prepared too so. He was then asked whether he would he prepared to paint military barracks. He responded he was not sure of this, but he believed the answer was possibly no. Magistrate Walsh granted him full exemption from military duties.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, September/ October 1965, p.3.; Vivienne Abraham Documents, Gordon Ames File.