Family Name:
Buscombe
Given Names:
Peter
Gender:
Male
Birth-Date:
Unknown
Death-Date:
Unknown
Marital Status:
Unknown, probably single
Age/ Age Range:
Early 20s
Location:
NSW, Glebe
Occupation:
University Student
Primary Motivation:
Conscientious Objector-Pacifism Religious
Reason for Court/ Tribunal Appearance:
Application for full exemption from military service
Court/ Tribunal Name and Location:
Court of Petty sessions, Sydney
Court/ Tribunal Hearing Date:10 July 1967 and 27 September 1967
Court/Tribunal Outcome:
Full exemption granted as a conscientious objector
Military Event:
National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972
Further Information:
Petr Buscombe was from Glebe a suburb of Sydney. He was a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers). At the court hearing on 10 July and 27 September 1967 Peter stated that, “Only God can decide who is to live and who is not to live. No man has the right to deprive another of life no matter what the reasons. The inbuilt laws (conscience) which a man deep down knows forbids him to take any human life”. David Hodgkin formerly Clerk of the Yearly Meeting of the Australian Society of Friends (Quakers) for many years gave evidence of the 300-year-old Peace Testimony of the Society. He also provided his personal knowledge of Peter since he came to Australia with his family in 1952. His father and mother and supporter Christopher Wohlwill, all Quakers, testified to Peter’s pacifism. With such strong support Magistrate Rodgers stated that, “I have come to the conclusion that the applicant does honestly believe in its tenets and has done so all his life I am satisfied his conscientious beliefs do not allow him to engage in any form of military service, combatant or non0combaytant and order accordingly”.
Confirmatory Sources:
Peacemaker, October/ November 1967, p.3.
THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE HONOUR ROLL 