McGONIGAL, Colin

Family Name:

McGonigal

Given Names:

Colin

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

Unknown, possibly 1937

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age:

18 years old

Location:

NSW, Punchbowl

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 dismissal

Court Name and Location:

[1] Court of Petty sessions, Sydney

[2] Quarter Sessions, Sydny

Court Hearing Date:

[1] 3 March 1955

[2] 5 May 1955

Court Outcome:

[1] Application was dismissed

[2] Appeal was upheld

Military Event:

National Service 1951-1959

Further Information:

Colin McGonigal was from New South Wales and a Christadelphian by religion. Based on the religious view of this sect he made an application for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector under the National Service Act 1951 (NSA). His court hearing was on 3 March 1955 at the Sydney Court of Petty Sessions before Magistrate MJ McCauley. His application was dismissed. Colin appealed and was heard on 5 May 1955 at the Sydney Court of Quarter Sessions before Judge Clegg. The Judge said to Colin that, McGonigal had expressed views which were illogical, irrational, confused and abhorrent to the vast majority of Christian people in this community. But said the Judge, that was not the deciding factor. The appellant had said he was opposed to any form of military service…No matter how irrational or illogical these beliefs may be, the law says he is entitled to be exempted from military service. He upheld the appeal.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, June 1955, p.2; August 1955, p.2.

Bobbie Oliver, Hell No! We Won’t Go! Resistance to Conscription in Post War Australia, Interventions, Melbourne, 2022, p.227