Family Name:
Stephens
Given Names:
R
Gender:
Male
Birth-Date:
Unknown, possibly 1934
Death-Date:
Unknown
Marital Status:
Unknown, probably single
Age:
18 years old
Location:
NSW
Occupation:
Unknown
Primary Motivation:
Conscientious Objector, religious
Reason for Court Appearance:
Probably applied for full exemption from military duties as a conscious objector
Court Name and Location:
Unknown, Unknown
Court Hearing Date:
Probably 1953
Court Outcome:
Any application was dismissed
Military Event:
National Service 1951-1959
Further Information:
R Stephens was from New South Wales and was a Jehovah’s Witness in religion. He is likely to have applied on religious grounds for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector under the National Service Act 1951 (NSA). If so, it was dismissed, or he was granted exemption from combatant military duties only. If he appealed that was also dismissed. He was incarcerated at Holsworthy Military Prison in New South Wales for at least 176 days which was equal to the time of military training prescribed under the NSA. He was expected to be released in early 1955.It was reported that conscientious objectors were well-treated at Holsworthy.
Confirmatory Sources:
Bobbie Oliver, Hell! No! We Won’t Go! Resistance to Conscription in Post War Australia, Interventions, Melbourne, 2022, p.234.
Peacemaker, September/ October 1954, p.2.
THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE HONOUR ROLL 