AITKIN Maxwell Murray

Family Name:

Aitkin

Given Names:

Maxwell Murray

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

1945

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age/ Age Range:

20 years old

Location:

NSW, South Windsor

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious objector/ religious pacifism

Reason for Court Appearance:

[1] Application for full exemption from military duties
[2] Appeal against exemption from combatant duties only

Court Name and Location:

[1] Unknown, Unknown
[2] District Court, Sydney

Court Hearing Date:

[1] 1965
[2] 19 November 1965

Court Outcome:

[1] Granted exemption from combatant duties only
[2] Granted full exemption from military duties

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Max Aitkin was from NSW and a Baptist. Judge Prior of the District Court, Sydney on 19 November 1965, granted him full exemption from military duties on appeal. The lower court had granted him exemption from combatant duties only. Judge Prior stated that it is not for the court to determine whether the appellant’s views are right or wrong, logical or illogical — merely whether they are sincerely held. He said that he held that the at appellant’s views were bona fide.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, September/ October 1965, p.3.; January/ February 1966, p.3.; Vivienne Abraham Documents, Max Aitken File (Court Transcript)