FRENCH, Bruce Reginald

Family Name:

French

Given Names:

Bruce Reginald

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

Unknown

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown

Age/ Age Range:

25 years old

Location:

TAS, Lower Barrington

Occupation:

Schoolteacher

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector, Pacifism Religious

Reason for Court Appearance:

Application for exemption from combatant military duties

Court Name and Location:

Magistrates Court, Devonport

Court Hearing Date:

7 February 1970

Court Outcome:

Granted exemption from combatant military duties

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Bruce French was a 25-year-old from Lower Barrington in Tasmania. He was a Schoolteacher and a member of the Hobart Baptist Church. He applied for exemption from combatant military duties based on his Christian pacifism. He had originally intended to apply for a full exemption but changed his plea to partial exemption. Magistrate Crisp at the hearing on 7 February 1970 advised him to consult a solicitor on this matter. Bruce declined the advice and mentioned that the application had been adjourned for over 5 years. The reason is unknown. He advised the magistrate he wished to proceed with the hearing and that he sought exemption from combatant duties based on his religious beliefs.
A summary record of the court hearing includes an exchange between the magistrate and the applicant. Magistrate Crisp reminded that applicant that this court has no say as to what duties the Army puts a man to. He said he was sure that the Army would take Bruce’s abilities into account. He stated that the courts only job is to decide whether the duties are to be combatant or non-combatant. Bruce told the magistrate that his Christian beliefs convince him that life is sacred and therefore the only acceptable form of defence is in terms of constructive aid and mutual understanding. The magistrate then asked Bruce how he would meet aggression. Bruce replied that he was prepared to prevent aggression starting. The magistrate addressed Bruce and said that if our shores were attacked what would you do? Bruce responded, diplomacy would be a more effective means of defence. I would not kill. I can say that categorically. Crisp then asked Bruce, would it outrage your conscience if asked to kill? French then said yes, I have felt this way for at least 6 years. During the exchange Bruce stated that his pacifist beliefs had been crystallised in study groups at the Hobart Baptist Church and at university in Hobart. Asked on what authority he based his antipathy to war, Bruce replied that his beliefs were based on the Old and the New Testaments.
The magistrate concluded by stating that he was satisfied that it would be outrageous in the applicant’s present state of mind for him to be asked to kill. He therefore granted Bruce exemption from combatant military duties.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, March/ April 1970, p.3.