McINTOSH, Ralph

Family Name:

McIntosh

Given Names:

Ralph

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

Unknown, possibly 1935

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age:

18 years old

Location:

VIC, Plenty

Occupation:

Mechanic

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, Victoria

[2] County Court, Melbourne

Court Hearing Date:

[1] 1952/1953

[2] July 1953

Court Outcome:

[1] Granted exemption from combatant duties only

[2] Appeal was upheld

Military Event:

National Service 1951-1959

Further Information:

Ralph McIntosh was from Plenty in Voctoria and a Mechanic by trade. He was a member of the Christian Israelite Church. Based on his religious beliefs he applied for full exemption from all military duties as a conscientious objector under the National Service Act 1951. The magistrate granted Ralph exemption from combatant military duties only. Ralph appealed that decision and was heard by Judge Book at a County Court on 1 July 1953. The judge stated that at his magistrates hearing Ralph had merely stated that fighting was futile, but he had now established the church teachings and his belief in them. Accordingly, he granted Ralph total exemption from military duties.

Confirmatory Sources:

Bobbie Oliver, Hell No! We Won’t Go! Resistance to Conscription in Post War Australia, Interventions, Melbourne, 2022, p.228.

Peacemaker, October 1953, p.2.