Family Name:
Starkey
Given Names:
Barry Raymond
Gender:
Male
Birth-date:
1945
Death-date:
Unknown
Marital Status:
Married
Age:
20 years old
Location:
SA, Whyalla
Occupation:
Unknown
Primary Motivation:
Conscientious Objector, religious
Reason for Court Appearance:
[1] Applied for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector
[2] Failed to obey a call-up notice
Court Name and Location:
Magistrates Court, South Australia
Court Hearing Date:
1965
Court Outcome:
Exempted from combatant military duties only
Military Event:
National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972
Further Information:
Barry Starkey was a 20-year-old from Whyalla in South Australia. He was a Jehovah’s Witness. He applied for total exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector under the National Service Act 1964 (NSA) during 1965. He was granted exemption from combatant military duties only. He was later granted a sixth-month deferment on the grounds that his wife was expecting a child. In fact, he was the father of two young daughters, which was unusual for someone so young himself. Barry unsuccessfully sought a second deferment. On 13 July 1967 Barry refused to obey a call-up notice. The following day he said, If they want me they will have to come and get me, but I won’t be any use to them. He also commented that, He did not think any married man or father should be called up. He had a responsibility to look after his wife and children. He also said that, He would not mind doing a prison term, as William White had done in Sydney, He would not mind doing 14 days or something like that. An Army spokesperson said that Barry had been included in the intake which had to report today (13 July 1967). The Commonwealth Solicitor would be notified of the position. The usual procedure is for legal action to be taken and a man committee to the Army. It is unknown what happened to Barry after that date.
Confirmatory Sources:
Peacemaker, September/ October 1965, p.3.
Canberra Times, 14 July 1967, p.3
THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE HONOUR ROLL 