Family Name:
Berry
Given Names:
Peter Edward
Gender:
Male
Birth-Date:
Unknown, probably 1934
Death-Date:
Unknown
Marital Status:
Unknown, probably single
Age:
19 years old
Location:
NSW, Eastwood
Occupation:
University Student
Primary Motivation:
Conscientious Objector, religious
Reason for Court Appearance:
[1] Application for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector
[2] Appeal that exemption was granted for combatant military duties only
Court Name and Location:
[1] Unknown, Sydney
[2] Unknown, Sydney
Court Hearing Date:
[1] September 1952
[2] 18 June 1953
Court Outcome:
[1] Granted exemption from combatant military duties only
[2] Appeal dismissed
Military Event:
National Service 1951-1959
Further Information:
Peter Berr was from Eastwood in New South Wales. He was a University Student and Christian by faith. He appealed Magistrate Meagher’s decision to grant him exemption from combatant military duties only. At the appeal on 18June 1953, He told Judge Renshaw that he had objected to national service training last September but had agreed to perform non-combatant duties. He now objected to this as he realised that he would not be free to spread his ideas on war as a National Service Trainee; He also now understood he was part of the same body in running an army. He stated, He did not believe in overcoming force by force and would not go to the ‘battlefield’.Judge Renshaw in response to Peter stated, These days the a battlefield comes to you…the principles …enunciated…were servile and cowardly…with the selfishness and egotism of youth you will not recognise any principles that conflict with your own. Judge Renshaw dismissed the appeal. It is unknown if Peter accepted his service as a non-combatant or adopted non-compliance.
Confirmatory Sources:
Bobbie Oliver, Hell No! We won’t Go! Resistance to Conscription in Post War Australia, Interventions, Melbourne, 2022, p.215
Peacemaker, September 1953, p.2.
THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE HONOUR ROLL 