Family Name:
Butler
Given Names:
Lloyd Luther
Gender:
Male
Birth-date:
Unknown
Death-date:
Unknown
Marital Status:
Single, then married
Age/Age Range:
Unknown
Location:
SA, Hindmarsh
Occupation:
Soldier, Australian Army Medical Corps
Primary Motivation:
Conscientious Objector – Objection to continuing war service.
Reason for Court Appearance:
Refusal to obey military commands
Court Name and Location:
Military Court Martial, location unknown.
Court Hearing Dates:
[1] 25 November 1941
[2] 4 February 1942
[3] 22 May 1942
[4] 30 June 1942.
Court Outcome:
[1] – [3] periods of military detention, length unknown
[4] 100 days military detention.
Military Event:
World War II 1939-1945
Further Information:
Lloyd Luther Butler had been accepted as a non-combatant and was serving as a private in the Australia Army Medical Corps (AAMC) in South Australia. On 25 November 1941, he decided he could not continue serving in the army and, from that date, he refused to obey any military commands. What inspired this change of heart is unknown, but Butler remained steadfast in his beliefs. Under the National Security (Conscientious Objector) Regulations, which became law on 23 February 1942, Butler gained the right to apply for exemption from military service as a conscientious objector. Unfortunately, the sections of the Regulations granting conscientious objectors the right of appeal were disallowed by the Senate in April 1942 and the amended law did not take effect until June 1942, and the right of appeal did not become law until mid-June 1943.
During this time, neither Butler’s case nor his appeal was heard. He underwent four courts martial with various periods of detention for refusing to obey military orders. At the fourth court martial, he was sentenced to 100 days in detention. Eventually, he was able to apply for exemption as a conscientious objector. His application succeeded and he was released from the AAMC. The night after his application was granted, Butler became engaged to Dymphna Barge, a typist in the office of the solicitor who had appeared on his behalf at his courts martial. They married and had a son before the end of the war. Butler found employment in a jam factory.
Confirmatory Sources:
The Peacemaker, 30 June 1942, p. 1 and 30 June 1943; Note un-headed, unsigned, undated in Somerville Papers, held by B. Oliver; A. Wilson, ‘A Question of Conscience. Pacifism in Victoria, 1938 – 1945’, Ph.D. Thesis, LaTrobe University, 1984, pp.208-9; Department of Defence, NAA: A471, 24094, Item ID 7921675. Title: [BUTLER, Lloyd Luther (Private): Service Number – S30238: Unit – 101st General Hospital. Date of Court Martial – 4 February 1942].
THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE HONOUR ROLL 