GREIVE, Ian Frederick

Family Name:

Greive

Given Names:

Ian Frederick

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

Probably 1946

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably Single

Age/ Age Range:

25 years old

Location:

ACT, Turner

Occupation:

Public Servant, Department of Navy

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objection, Pacifism Religious

Reason for Court Appearance:

Application for full exemption from military duties

Court Name and Location:

Court of Petty Sessions, Canberra

Court Hearing Date:

24 May 1971

Court Outcome:

Granted full exemption from military duties

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Ian Greive was from Turner a suburb of Canberra. He was 23 years of age and worked as a public servant for the Department of Navy. He applied for full exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector grounded in Christian pacifism. He informed Magistrate Dobson at his hearing at the Court of Petty sessions in Canberra held 24 May 1971, that he had held his pacifist beliefs for three years. Ian had initially registered for National Service but stated that his beliefs against war and the military had become stronger over the past three years. His father Jack Greive of Bentleigh, Victoria, told the court that he was embarrassed by his son’s views but nevertheless confirmed that Ian’s views had grown stronger over the last few years. He said his son had quoted the Bible and referred to History to demonstrate nothing good ever came out of war. Ian had informed the court that he believed life was one of man’s most precious possessions and he did not have the right to take another man’s life. He said he viewed the army as a machine for training people to kill. He said that if faced with violence he would know what he ought to do but did not know what he would do. He emphasised he would not choose violence. The applicant was asked about him working for the Department of Navy and as to whether he was therefore aiding war. This he denied but stated doing national service, including acting in a non-combatant role, does so. Magistrate Dobson remarked that he failed to see the difference and had trouble in reconciling the two things. The magistrate believed there was some logic missing from the application for registration as a conscientious objector. He described it as “a crazy mixed-up one”. As Ian had refused to swear on the Bible but had taken an affirmation instead, the magistrate suggested Ian was using the Bible for his own purposes. Despite these misgivings the magistrate granted Ian full exemption from military duties on 24 May 1971.

Confirmatory Sources:

Canberra Times 25 May 1971, p.3; Peacemaker, May / June/ July/ August 1971. p.11.