CALLAHAN, Rex Francis

Family Name:

Callahan

Given Names:

Rex Francis

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

Unknown, probably 1945 or 1946

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age/ Age Range:

Early 20s

Location:

VIC, Melbourne

Occupation:

Sounds Effect Engineer, Australian Broadcasting Commission

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector – Religious Pacifism

Reason for Court Appearance:

[1] Application for full exemption from military duties
[2] Appealed the decision of being granted from combatant duties only

Court Name and Location:

[1] Magistrates Court, Melbourne
[2] County Court, Melbourne

Court Hearing Date:

[1] 1966
[2] 14 October 1966

Court Outcome:

[1] Granted exemption from combatant duties only
[2] Decision of magistrate’s court over-ruled, applicant was not granted exemption from any form of military duty

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Rex Callahan was from Melbourne, Victoria. He was a Christian pacifist. He worked as Sounds Effect Engineer for the Australian Broadcasting Commission. He applied for a full exemption from all military duties. His hearing was in the Melbourne Magistrates Court and Magistrate CE Elvish granted him exemption from combatant duties only. He appealed that decision and appeared before Judge Hewitt on 14 October 1966. Rex stated that as a Christian the whole idea of military forces was abhorrent. If he was to undertake national service, he would still be contributing indirectly to the death of another human being by preparing somebody else to fight and murder. The outcome was that for the first time an appeal judge overruled the decision of the lower court. Rex was not formally granted any form of exemption from military duties. Judge Hewitt claimed that Rex had a disjointed, embryo form of objection to military services but that it is not such a conscientious belief that disallows engaging in any form of military service. In his judgement he stated that he found his beliefs did not prevent him from engaging in combatant service. He added that if he so desires, he can express a preference to be placed in a non-combatant military duty. It is unknown if Rex accepted the decision.

Confirmatory Sources:Peacemaker, September 1966, p.3.; October 1966, p.1; Vivienne Abraham Documents, Rex Callahan File.