Family Name:
Kelsen
Given Names:
Carl Ludvig
Gender:
Male
Birth-date:
31 July 1951
Death-date:
Living
Marital Status:
Single
Age
20 years old
Location:
VIC, Glen Waverley
Occupation:
Student, Airline Transport Pilot Licence
Primary Motivation:
Conscientious Objector, pacifism-humanist
Reason for Court Appearance:
Application for full exemption from military duties
Court Name and Location:
Magistrates Court, Melbourne
Court Hearing Date:
1972
Court Outcome:
Granted full exemption from military duties
Military Event:
National Service Act and Vietnam War 1964-1972
Further Information:
Carl was born 31 July 1951 at Yallourn, in Gippsland Victoria. The town no longer exists. It was built to house employees of the SEC at the brown coal open cut mine. His parents, until 1969 owned and operated a large Electrical Retail & Contracting business in Gippsland. Carl attended Moe Primary School (1957-1963) and Moe Hugh School (1964-1968) , and later studied at RMIT University.
Carl registered under the National Service Act 1964 (NSA). He was balloted under the Act for the second intake ballot of 1971. At the time he was studying at the time for an Airline Transport Pilot Licence. He attended the mandatory medical under the NSA and was passed fit-for-service. He was called up. He then applied to be registered as a conscientious objector and be exempted from all military duties. His application was based on his humanist pacifism and was supported by his parents. He was greatly influenced by his parents who opposed war and believed that war will only stop when individuals refuse to fight. He recalled his father saying that, if he was forced to go and given a gun to not learn how to use it. At training miss the target. Carl’s conscientious beliefs dated back to his early childhood. Naturally he opposed Australia’s participation in the Vietnam war.
At the Melbourne Magistrates Court hearing during 1972 he was granted full exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector, because of his opposition to all war. Carl recalls that at his hearing there were six applicants, he was number four to be heard. The three previous applicants were not granted exemption. He also recalled one of the questions put to him by the State’s Legal Counsel. It was along the lines that if Carl returned home to find someone was raping his mother what would he do about it. He responded he would of course do everything to stop the perpetrator short of killing him. As has often been stated what such a question has to do with war is problematic. At the court hearing Carl had two older family friends as supporters. Ross Soden was a WW2 veteran. So too was Jack Keogh, who was highly decorated for his war service. Both were able to attest that Carl had long-standing pacifist beliefs opposing war.
Confirmatory Source:
NAA MP1357/1, item barcode number 12248074, control symbol 71, Title: Conscientious Objector Register, 17/8/1972. Full exemption. Registration number 2224982.
Personal Interview, Carl Ludvig Kelsen, July 2025.
THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE HONOUR ROLL 