COCKING, Terence

Family Name:

Cocking

Given Names:

Terence

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

Unknown

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age/ Age Range:

Early 20s

Location:

VIC, Geelong

Occupation:

School Teacher

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector-Vietnam War

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:15 February 1968

Court/Tribunal Outcome:

Application for full exemption not granted as conscientious objection to a particular war is not provided for in s 29A of the National Service Act

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Terence Cocking was a School Teacher from Geelong in Victoria. He had commenced his national service military training at the rank as Private. He was stationed at Holsworthy Military Facility in New South Wales. He began his training in February 1967. He explained at his court hearing that he began to realise he was being trained to kill and began to wonder if Australia’s commitment in Vietnam was correct. Magistrate CS Rodgers at the Court of Petty Sessions, Sydney conceded that Terence might well have had a change in his beliefs since induction into the army. However, he stated that he had failed to prove his conscientious beliefs were of the kind provided for in Section 29A of the National Service. Act. It is unknown if Terence appealed the decision.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, February/ March 1968, p.3.