CAMERON, John

Family Name:

Cameron

Given Names:

John

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

Unknown, possibly 1935

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age:

18 years old

Location:

NSW, Newcastle

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 granted an exemption from combatant military duties only

[3] Refused to obey an army order

Court Name and Location:

[1] Unknown, Newcastle

[2] Unknown, Newcastle

[3] Unknown, Unknown

Court Hearing Date:

[1] 1953

[2] 1953 or early 1954

[3] Pre-June 1954

Court Outcome:

[1] Application was dismissed

[2] Appeal was dismissed

[3] Sentenced to Holsworthy Military Prison

Military Event:

National Service 1951-1959

Further Information:

John Cameron was from Newcastle in New South Wales. He was a member of the Jehovah’s Witness. 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). He was granted exemption from combatant military duties only. He appealed the decision, but it was dismissed. He presented himself in accordance with his call-up notice. He used his own money to pay the train fare rather than the railway voucher issued to him. He informed the army that he would not serve. He refused to obey army orders and was threatened with a court martial. He was then transferred to Holsworthy Military Prison where he would have been expected to serve 176 days which was equal to the military training required under the NSA. He was in Holsworthy when Vivienne Abraham, of the Pacifist Peace Council of Australia, visited all the conscientious objectors in that facility during June 1954. John raised the question with her about how far one should cooperate with the military authorities. Vivienne said, I could only reply that it was a matter for the individual to decide for himself. It was reported that the conscientious objectors were well-treated in Holsworthy.

Confirmatory Sources:

Bobbie Oliver, Hell No! We Won’t Go! Resistance to Conscription in Australia, Interventions, Melbourne, 2022, p.216.

Peacemaker, September/ October 1954, p.2.