JOHNSTON, James Henry

Family Name:

Johnston

Given Names:

James Henry

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

Unknown, possibly 1937

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age:

18 years old

Location:

QLD, Cairns

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:

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 Johnston was from Cairns in Queensland. He belonged to 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 1951. His hearing was on 28 August 1955 at the Court of Petty Sessions at Cairns. The hearing was before Magistrate Smart. James told the court, that he went from house to house with Bible aids supplied by his church encouraging people to study God through the Bible. He said he, would have no objection fighting in a theocratic or God-commanding war…Jehovah’s Witnesses have their own spiritual fight as ambassadors of God’s kingdom. We are already in a theocratic war. James was asked if he would assist the enemy in some circumstances and he replied, As the bible points out, the world is our enemy, and we must go out and bring the word of Truth showing them they can receive salvation under God’s kingdom. The magistrate granted the 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.224.