CONNELL, Desmond (Des)

Family Name:

Connell

Given Names:

Demond (Des)

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

Unknown, possibly 1935

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age:

18 Years old

Location:

SA, Kangaroo Island

Occupation:

Unknown

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector, religious

Reason for Court Appearance:

[1] Application for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector

[2] Breach of the National Service Act, probably refusal to obey a call-up notice

Court Name and Location:

[1] Magistrates Court, South Australia

[2] Unknown, South Australia

Court Hearing Date:

[1] Early 1954

[2] Pre-June 1954

Court Outcome:

[1] Granted exemption from combatant military duties only

[2] Sentenced to a fine £10 and sentenced to detention at Holsworthy Military Prison

Military Event:

National Service 1951-1959

Further Information:

Desmond Connell (Des)was from Kangaroo Island in South Australia and was a member of the Christian Assemblies. On the basis of his religious beliefs, he applied for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector under the National Service Act 1951 (NSA). His hearing was in the Magistrates Court in early 1954. The magistrate granted Des exemption from combatant military duties only. He did not appeal. He was summonsed to court, probably because he refused to obey a call-up notice, prior to June 1954. He was fined £10 and committed to a prescribed authority under the NSA. He was sent to Holsworthy Military Prison in New South Wales. He was expected to serve at least 176 days in Holsworthy which was equal to the military training time under the NSA. As he had not voluntarily reported to the military authorities he may have been detained for longer than 176 days. He was in Holsworthy in June 1954 when Vivienne Abraham of the Federal Pacifist Council of Australia visited the conscientious objectors detained there. It was reported that they were well-treated whilst detained.

Confirmatory Sources:

Bobbie Oliver, Hell No! We Won’t Go! Resistance to Conscription in Post War Australia, Interventions, Melbourne, 2022, p.218.

Peacemaker, September/ October 1954, p.2.