HENRY, Gordon McKenzie

Family Name:

Henry

Given Names:

Gordon McKenzie

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

1909

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Married

Age/Age Range:

33-34

Location:

VIC, Carrum Downs, Melbourne.

Occupation:

Manager, Carrum Downs Social Service Settlement.

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector – Religious Pacifism

Reason for Court Appearance:

[1] Application to be registered as a Conscientious objector
[2] Appeal of court decision.

Court Name and Location:

[1] Magistrate’s Court, Location unknown, VIC.
[2] Appeal Court, Location unknown, VIC.

Court Hearing Date:

[1] August 1942
[2] September 1943.

Court Outcome:

[1] Ordered to perform non-combatant duties
[2] Granted conditional exemption to serve only in civilian work under civil control.

Military Event:

World War II 1939-1945

Further Information:

Gordon Henry was called up for a medical examination and enlistment into military service early in 1942. His application for exemption as a conscientious objector was heard in August 1942, and he was ordered to perform non-combatant duties. He was granted leave to appeal only after being ordered to report for military service. When Henry refused to enlist, he faced prosecution, but was then granted leave to appeal against the court order. Judge Book heard the appeal in September 1943 and granted conditional exemption. This made Henry liable for conscription to perform civilian work under civil control. In court, Henry made his position clear by stating that this was a compromise for him because he could not conscientiously perform any conditional service. He believed that God had called him to serve in his present work as the manager of a Social Service Settlement for needy families on the outskirts of Melbourne. He hoped that the Manpower authorities would regard this as essential work and permit him to remain there. Henry’s defence pointed out that he had ‘resigned a lucrative position in a city office in 1940’ to take up his present position where he received ‘only a minimum living allowance for himself, his wife and two children’.

Confirmatory Sources: Dossier of conscientious objectors as at 22 February 1944, London Peace Society Papers, National Library of Australia, Accession No. MS 2980, Box 3; Kenneth Deakin Rivett Papers, University of Melbourne Archives Accession: 81/136, 83/100, 87/80, Series 3. Correspondence with Individual pacifists; Attorney-General’s Department, NAA: 1608, AA45/1/12, Item ID 206504. Title: War Records – Conscientious Objectors – General Representations Pt 3