HOEY, Les

Family Name: Hoey

Given Names: Les

Gender: Male

Location: Brisbane

Primary Motivation: Pacifism Humanist

Reason for Court Appearance:

[1]Application for exemption from military service

[2] Arrested

[3] Refusal to obey orders

[4] Arrested

Court Name and Location:

[1] Unknown

[2] Military court

[3] Court Martial

[4] Unknown

Court Hearing Date:

[1] 15 April 1942

[2] 14 December 1942

[3] Unknown

[4] 24 February 1943

Court Outcome:

[1]Application dismissed and incarcerated briefly Exhibition Grounds

[2] Military confinement 50 days

[3] Found to be wrongfully detained and discharged

[4] Imprisoned Palen Creek Prison Farm for 6 months

Military Event: WW11 1939-1945

Personal Summary:

Les Hoey was well-known in Brisbane for his progressive conscientious convictions. When he was called-up he stated that it is ludicrous that a man should be called to account for not wishing to kill his fellowman. The …division into various nations is an artificial state which I do not recognise. People are human beings…no matter what their colour or size, and as such are altogether brothers.

When the magistrate challenged Hoey’s views, Les replied that it does not interest me whether the Court agrees with my view or not. Not surprisingly his application to be registered a s a conscientious objector was dismissed. The judge mentioned that he was most arrogant. The prosecutor spoke the old cliché that some military officer might be able to make a man of the applicant.

Les sought safe haven at Paxton, a Quaker community farm situated outside of Brisbane. It undertook that role. During his time at Paxton Les had a relationship with Shirley Souwer a member of a main Quaker family that established Paxton. In late 1943 police arrested Shirley whilst posing at Paxtons dam.

On 24 February 1943 Les and two other conscientious non-compliers, Gordon Clare and Gordon Herron, were arrested at Paxton. They were all sentenced to be imprisoned at Palen Creek Prison Farm. All were released later in 1943. Les wrote from prison that two of the boys off (sic) Paxton are with me, and when we get out together it is easy to imagine we are back at the old farm.

Confirmatory Source:

Metcalf Bill. 2021. Paxton: A Haven of Peace during World War II, Queensland History Journal, Vol 24, No 8. pp.693-710.