WINTER, John

Family Name:

Winter

Given Names:

John

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

1919

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown

Age Range:

Location:

VIC

Occupation:

Soldier

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector – Christian Pacifism

Reason for Court Appearance:

Refusal to serve/Absent without leave.

Court Name and Location:

Court Martial

Court Hearing Date:

4 February 1944

Court Outcome:

Detained at Darley Camp, VIC

Military Event:

World War II

Further Information:

John Winter had taken the oath of enlistment in 1940, when he was in a reserved occupation. He was called up for military service in January 1943. By this time, his views had changes and he applied for registration as a conscientious objector on the grounds of Christian belief. His application was refused because he had already taken the oath. He enlisted in the Medical Corps Training Battalion, but later refused to serve after realizing that he could not make military service fit in with his Christian beliefs. John told his Commanding Officer that he could not serve. He was placed in a detention camp. His request for a court martial was refused, and he was told by his CO that he would be drafted to a battle area. John went absent without leave and travelled to Melbourne seeking an interview with his Member of Parliament, R.G. Menzies. After the interview produced no result, he reported to the military authorities and was detained at Darley Camp on 4 February 1944. He faced indefinite detention while he refused to serve.

Confirmatory Sources:

Dossier of conscientious objectors as at 22 February 1944, London Peace Society Papers, National Library of Australia, Canberra, Accession No. MS 2980, Box 3.