FRAZER, John Laurie

Family Name:

Frazer

Given Names:

Laurie

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

Unknown

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably Single

Age/ Age Range:

22 years old

Location:

VIC, Yarraville

Occupation:

Mechanic

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector

Reason for Court Appearance:

[a] Application for full exemption from military duties
[b] Appeal against an application for full exemption from military duties

Court Name and Location:

[a] Magistrates Court, Melbourne
[b] County Court, Melbourne

Court Hearing Date:

[a] Unknown
[b] 6 May 1969

Court Outcome:

[a] Application for full exemption from military duties was not granted
[b] On appeal full exemption from military duties was granted

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

John Frazer was a 22 years old from Yarraville in Victoria. He was a Mechanic by trade. He applied for full exemption from military duties, but this was not granted by the Magistrate Ross. The magistrate held that he was unable to grant the application because it was based on the opposition to a particular war, namely the Vietnam War. John appealed against this decision, and this was heard at the County Court, Melbourne by Judge Graw on 6 May 1969. The Judge commented that John’s original application was now inconsistent with his beliefs as he now expressed them. The implication being that John held pacifist views against all war. This was confirmed by the evidence of his mother who stated that he had long held general conscientious objection views towards war. Accordingly, the judge upheld the appeal and granted the applicant full exemption from military duties.

Confirmatory Sources:Peacemaker, May/ June 1969, p.3.