Family Name:
Orr
Given Names:
Edgar William (Ted)
Gender:
Male
Birth-date:
Unknown
Death-date:
Unknown
Marital Status:
Single
Age Range:
27
Location:
VIC/TAS
Occupation:
Teacher
Primary Motivation:
Conscientious Objector – Religious Pacifism
Reason for Court Appearance:
[1] Refusal to serve under Australian Military Regulation 140A
[2] Application to register as a Conscientious Objector
[3] Appeal
Court Name and Location:
[1] Collingwood, VIC
[2] Police Court, Launceston, TAS
[3] Appeal Court, Hobart.
Court Hearing Date:
[1] 28 April 1941
[2] 23 April 1942
[3] 19 June 1942.
Court Outcome:
[1] 3 months imprisonment in Pentridge, VIC
[2] Application rejected.
[3] Appeal upheld. Unconditional exemption granted.
Military Event:
World War II 1939-1945
Further Information: Edgar (Ted) Orr was a 27-year teacher and a Quaker from Tasmania. When he refused to enlist in military service, he was dismissed from the school in Victoria, where he was teaching. He was active in many pacifist organisations in Melbourne, including the Christian Pacifist Movement, the COs Group, and the Goodwill Service Community. He attended the Society of Friends meeting house in Melbourne. Orr was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment for refusing to enlist. Although he was later pardoned, he had already served his full sentence in Pentridge, being released on 1 August 1941.
Returning to Tasmania in November 1941, Ted Orr applied for exemption as a conscientious objector. His application was rejected in the Launceston Police Court on 23 April 1942, but an appeal was upheld by C.J. Morris at Hobart on 19th June. Orr was granted full exemption. He married Hazel Osborne on 28 June 1942.
Confirmatory Sources:
Commonwealth Investigations Service NAA: A8911/98 Title: Conscientious Objectors; The Peacemaker, June 1941; August 1941; December 1941; June 1942; August 1942
THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE HONOUR ROLL 