COOPER, Anthony

Family Name:

Cooper

Given Names:

Anthony

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

Unknown, possibly 1934

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age:

18 years old

Location:

NSW, Sydney

Occupation:

Student

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector, religious

Reason for Court Appearance:

Application for total exemption from military duties a s a conscientious objector

Court Name and Location:

Unknown, Sydney

Court Hearing Date:

28 August 1952

Court Outcome:

Total exemption granted

Military Event:

National Service 1951-1959

Further Information:

Anthony Cooper was from New South Wales and was a student. He was a Quaker by religion and belonged to one of the historic peace churches. Accordingly, he applied for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector under the National Service Act 1951. Mr McCauley was legal counsel for the Minister of Labour and National Service whilst Anthony was represented by his own legal counsel. Applications were questioned at length by Magistrate Meagher and the prosecutor for National Service. Some of the questions put to Anthony included, To a CO who quoted Thou shalt not kill. In non-combatant service, there is no question of taking life, so what could your objection be? and If your home was attacked and the only way to defend it were to take life, what would you do? Anthony must have answered these and other questions to the court’s satisfaction as the magistrate granted him total exemption from military service.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, October 1952, p.1.