Family Name:
Kilpatrick
Given Names:
Stuart
Gender:
Male
Birth-Date:
Unknown, possibly 1934
Death-Date:
Unknown
Marital Status:
Unknown, probably single
Age:
19 years old
Location:
QLD
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 exemption from combatant military duties only
Court Name and Location:
[1] Unknown, Queensland
[2] Appeal Court, Brisbane
Court Hearing Date:
[1] Early 1953
[2] Late 1953
Court Outcome:
[1] Granted exemption from combatant military duties only
[2] Appeal was dismissed and was given to the custody of the army
Military Event:
National Service 1951-1959
Further Information:
Stuart Kilpatrick was from Queensland and a Jehovah’s Witness by religion. That church opposes all war and militarism organized by the government. The magistrate in the lower court granted Stuart exemption from combatant military duties only. He appealed that decision. The Chief Justice dismissed the appeal. He came under the custody of the army and was sent to Holsworthy Military Prison. He was due to be released by the end of 1954. It was reported that concientious objectors were well-treated at Holsworthy.
Confirmatory Sources:
Bobbie Oliver, Hell No! W Won’t Go! Resistance to Conscription in Post War Australia, Interventions, Melbourne, 2022, p.224.
Peacemaker, September 1953, p.2; September/ October 1954, p.2.
