GALE, James Arthur

Family Name:

Gale

Given Names:

James Arthur

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

Unknown, 1937

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age:

18 years old

Location:

QLD, Cairns

Occupation:

Unknown

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objection, religious

Reason for Court Appearance:

Applied for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector

Court Name and Location:

Court of Petty Sessions, Cairns

Court Hearing Date:

28 August 1955

Court Outcome:

Application was granted

Military Event:

National Service 1951-1959

Further Information:

James Gale was from Cairns in Queensland and 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 195 (NSA). His hearing was on 28 August 1955 at the Court of Petty Sessions, Cairns. His hearing was before Magistrate Smart. James had already served part of his military training under the NSA when making the application. He informed the court, that by regular study of the bible he had gained an understanding of God’s word which clearly indicated to him that he should not kill. The magistrate granted his application.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, December 1955, p.1.

Bobbie Oliver, Hell No! We Won’t Go! Resistance to Conscription in Post War Australia, Interventions, Melbourne, 2022, p.220.