HOWE, Jack

Family Name:

Howe

Given Names:

Jack

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

Unknown, possibly 1936

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age:

18 years old

Location:

TAS, Mole Creek

Occupation:

Unknown

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector, religious

Reason for Court Appearance:

Application for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector

Court Name and Location:

Police Court, Launceston

Court Hearing Date:

10 January 1955

Court Outcome:

Application was dismissed

Military Event:

National Service 1951-1959

Further Information:

Jack Howe was from Mole Creek in Tasmania. He was a Jehovah’s Witness by religion. He stated, that as one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, his conscientious scriptural beliefs prohibited him from taking part in war, combatant or non-combatant. He could not salute an officer or a flag. In response to a question asked of him in court he stated, that, If a hostile force landed in Tasmania and some members of it went to his home and attacked his wife, he would do all to protect her. In the struggle if the attacker lost his life that would be the attacker’s responsibility. In response to another question, he said, If his country was threatened with annihilation he would not fight unless his home or his family were attacked. He would not go into the open to protect his country. Jack’s hearing was before Magistrate Crisp at the Police Court in Launceston on 10 January 1955. Magistrate Crisp said, the onus was on he applicant to satisfy the court that he held the conscientious belief he claimed and in his opinion Howe had failed to do this. The application was dismissed. It is unknown if Jack appealed the decision.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, March 1955, p.2.

Bobbie Oliver, Hell No! We Won’t Go! Resistance to Conscription in Post War Australia, Interventions, Melbourne, p.223.