SAGGERS, Raymond John

Family Name:

Saggers

Given Names:

Raymond John

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

1945

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age/ Age Range:

20 years old

Location:

VIC, Footscray

Occupation:

Electrical Mechanic

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector

Reason for Court/ Tribunal Appearance:

[1] Application for exemption from combatant military service
[2] Application for exemption from combatant military service

Court/ Tribunal Name and Location:

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

Court/ Tribunal Hearing Date:

[1] 3 June 1965
[2] 10 June 1965

Court/Tribunal Outcome:

[1] Granted exemption from combatant duties but requested permission to finish his years study, magistrate indicated this was a matter for another hearing
[2] Granted exemption from combatant military service

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

John Saggers was a 20-year-old aElectrical Mechanic from Footscray in Victoria. He was a member of the Church of England and hoped to enter the ministry. He applied to be exempt from combatant military service. During the 3 June 1965 hearing he said he was not aware of Article XXVII, of the Articles of Religion, stated that ‘It is lawful for Christian men at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in the wars’. John may have thought this was obliquity rather than a choice., for he thought that this would not prevent him from entering or from being accepted for the ministry. John stated that,” he was prepared to serve in the army but not to kill or train to kill”. He asked to be allowed to finish his year’s study and was told by Magistrate Murray that this would be a matter for another hearing. On 10 June 1965 Magistrate EL Ross granted his (second) application for exemption from combatant military service.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker June 1965, p.1; September/ October 1965, p.3.; Vivienne Abraham Documents, John Saggers File.