Family Name:
Beckett
Given Names:
Brian Lawrence
Gender:
Male
Birth-date: 1946 probably
Death-date:
Unknown
Marital Status:
Unknown, probably single
Age/Age Range:
24 years old
Location:
NSW, Manly
Occupation:
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Primary Motivation:
Conscientious Objection, Humanist Pacifism
Reason for Court Appearance:
Application for full exemption from military duties
Court Name and Location:
Unknown, Sydney
Court Hearing Date:
7 January 1970
Court Outcome:
Granted full exemption from military duties
Military Event:
National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972
Further Information:
Brian Beckett was from Manly, New South Wales. He was 24 years old. Brian was an aircraft maintenance engineer. He told the court hearing that he was a complete pacifist and that this was long-standing. Magistrate H Burman granted him full exemption from all military duties as a conscientious objector. The magistrate stated that the applicant, ‘has put himself forward as a complete pacifist, a person opposed to war and violence under any circumstances. He maintained this throughout his cross-examination…it is clear he was brought up in a pacifist atmosphere; his father has expressed and shared the same views as did his brother and brother-in-law; and these beliefs are of long standing”. Burman believed Brian’s views were illogical, partly or incompletely formulated and impractical. This was a common attitude expressed during conscientious objector court hearings at the time. The magistrate goes on to say, “I am satisfied that the views he has expressed are strongly held by him. His beliefs clearly would prevent him engaging in any combatant duty. He also says they would prevent him from serving in a non-combatant way, on the basis that assistance given to the army is assisting the purposes of the Army which in his view is based on violence. I am satisfied that the applicant has beliefs which justify his exemption from serving in the army in any capacity”.
Confirmatory Sources:
Peacemaker, Jan/Feb 1970, p.3.
THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE HONOUR ROLL 