BOWDEN, John

Family Name:

Bowden

Given Names:

John

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

Unknown

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age/ Age Range:

24 years old

Location:

NSW, Sydney

Occupation:

Fitter and Turner

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector

Reason for Court Appearance:

[1] Application for full exemption from military duties
[2] Appeal against full exemption from military duties not granted

Court Name and Location:

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

Court Hearing Date:

[1] Unknown
[2] 29 May 1970

Court Outcome:

[1] Application for full exemption from military duties not granted
[2] Appeal upheld, granted full exemption from military duties

Military Event: National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

John Bowden was from Sydney, New South Wales and a fitter and turner by trade. He appealed against a decision of a lower court to not grant his application for full exemption from military duties. The appeal was heard on 29 May 1970 at the Sydney District Court by Judge Brennan. The magistrate upheld the appeal and granted John full exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector. The Judge said in the course of his judgment that: “It so happens that in regard to some areas of his thinking there is overlapping between matters to which he conscientiously objects and with which he also happened to disagree for political and social reasons”.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, January/ February 1971, p.9.