GRAY, Brian

Family Name:

Gray

Given Names:

Brian

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

1945

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably Single

Age/ Age Range:

20 years old

Location:

VIC, Thornbury

Occupation:

Unknown

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector, Pacifism Religious

Reason for Court Appearance:

[a] Application for full exemption from military duties
[b] Appeal against the decision to grant exemption from combatant duties only

Court Name and Location:

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

Court Hearing Date:

[a] 16 June 1965
[b] 1 and 4 November 1965

Court Outcome:

[a] Application was

dismissed
[b] Appeal was dismissed, and lower court upheld

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Personal Summary:

Brian Gray was a from Thornbury in Victoria, a pacifist, and a member of the Christian Israelite Church. He was also a vegetarian. He applied for full exemption from military duties. At the court hearing on 16 June 1965 at the City Magistrates Court, Melbourne, he told the court that he would rather go to jail than fight. Magistrate Humphries was not persuaded and granted him exemption from combatant duties only. He appealed the decision, but the lower court’s decision was upheld.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, July/ August 1965, p.3; September/ October 1965, p.3; January/ February 1966, p.3.;Daily News, 17 June 1965, p1.;Canberra Times 18 June 1965, p.12.; Vivienne Abraham Documents, Brian Gray File,.