NIXON, Thomas George

Family Name:

Nixon

Given Names:

Thomas George

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

Unknown, possibly 1937

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age:

18 years old

Location:

QLD, Townsville

Occupation:

Unknown

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector

Reason for Court Appearance:

Application for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector

Court Name and Location:

Court of Petty sessions, Townsville

Court Hearing Date:

20 April 1955

Court Outcome:

Application was dismissed

Military Event:

National Service 1951-1959

Further Information:

Thomas Nixon was from Townsville in Queensland. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA). He applied for total exemption from military duties based on his religious beliefs under the National Service Act 1951. As was usual, for SDA, he said he was prepared to serve in a non-combatant capacity. His court hearing was on 20 April 1955 at the Curt of Petty Sessions in Townsville, Queensland. His application was heard by Magistrate T Keleher. Mr McCarthy, Legal Counsel for the Department of Labour and National Service doubted the sincerity of the conscientious belief of Thomas. The magistrate agreed and his application was dismissed. It is unknown if Thomas appealed the decision.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, June 1955, p.2. Bobbie Oliver, Hell No! We Won’t Go! Resistance to Conscription in Post War Australia, Interventions, Melbourne, 2022, p.229.