CLARKE, John Faris

Family Name:

Clarke

Given Names:

John Faris

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

Unknown, probably 1949 or 1950

Death-date:

Unknown:

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age/ Age Range:

20 years old

Location:

WA Mosman Park

Occupation:

Sculptor, artist, labourer

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector Pacifism Humanist

Reason for Court Appearance:

Application for full exemption from military duties

Court Name and Location:

Court of Petty Sessions, Perth

Court Hearing Date:

11 May 1970

Court Outcome:

Granted full exemption from military duties

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

John Clarke was sculptor, artist and labourer from Mosman Park, Western Australia. He was aged 20 years when he applied for full exemption from military duties under the National Service Act. His court hearing was in the Perth Court of Petty sessions and heard by Magistrate Ansell on 11 May 1970. John informed the court that for two years he had thought about how he would react if he was conscripted. He originally thought he would accept it and make the best of it. However, recently he said that discussions and things he had seen had changed his views. He said that during 1969, whilst in Victoria, he had formed conclusive ideas about war, conscription and the military environment. He decided he could not contribute in any way. Further he regarded war as a human failure to negotiate a situation, It was disgusting and he could not take part in any military environment. Magistrate Ansell was satisfied John was a sincere young man who believed for some time that war and participation in war was wrong. He granted John full exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker May/ June 1970, p.3.