Family Name:
Constantine
Given Names:
John George
Gender:
Male
Birth-Date:
Unknown, possibly1934
Death-Date:
Unknown
Marital Status:
Unknown, probably single
Age:
19 years old
Location:
TAS, Devonport
Occupation:
Unknown
Primary Motivation:
Conscientious Objector, religious
Reason for Court Appearance:
[1] Application for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector
[2] Appeal against being granted exemption
Court Name and Location:
[1] Unknown, Tasmania
[2] Appeal Court, Burnie
Court Hearing Date:
[1] Unknown, possibly early 1953
[2] September 1953
Court Outcome:
[1] Granted exemption from combatant military duties only
[2] Appeal was upheld
Military Event:
National Service 1951-1959
Further Information:
John Constantine was from Devonport in Tasmania. He was a Jehovah’s Witness. The church opposes war and militarism organized by the government. He applied for total exemption from military duties in the lower court. The magistrate granted John exemption from combatant military duties only. He appealed this decision, and it was heard in a Burnie court by Justice Gibson. His Honour stated that he was not concerned with the merits of the applicants arguments, but it was evident that he held the belief that it would be a violation of his conscience to take any part even in non-combatant duties in the army, navy or air force. Justice Gibson upheld John’s appeal
Confirmatory Sources:
Bobbie Oliver, Hell No! We Won’t Go! Resistance to Conscription in Post War Australia, Interventions, Melbourne, 2022, p.30 and p.218.
Peacemaker, September 1953, p.2; August/ September 1956, p.4.
THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE HONOUR ROLL 