DIXON, James Charles

Family Name:

Dixon

Given Names:

James Charles

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

1952

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age:

20 years old

Location:

NSW, Forrest Lodge

Occupation:

University Student

Primary Motivation:

Draft Resister, anti-conscription

Reason for Court Appearance:

[1] Incitement to people to not register for national service

[2] Failure to register for national service and pay the fine

Court Name and Location:

[1] Central Court of Petty Sessions, Sydney

[2] Special Federal Court, Sydney

Court Hearing Date:

[1] 28 August 1972 adjourned until 30 August 1972

[2] 18 September 1972

Court Outcome:

[1] Convicted and fine d$25 plus $5 costs

[2] Convicted and fined $75

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Jame Dixon was a 20-year-old Sydney University student from Forrest Lodge in New South Wales. He was opposed to the National Service Act 1964 (NSA). He refused to register for national service under the Act. On 17 July 1972, upon leaving the Special Federal Court in Sydney, he was handed a summonses to a court hearing concerning his offence. James was present to support Ian Davis, Convenor of the Draft Resisters Union at Sydney University, who had been charged with offences at a demonstration at the Sydney Town Hall on 15 July 1972. On 28 August 1972, twelve people appeared at the Central Court of Petty Sessions in Sydney on charges resulting from that demonstration against the NSA. James was one of the defendants. All were charged with inciting people to not register for national service. The prosecution informed the court they were all distributing leaflets containing the words ‘don’t register for national service’. Magistrate CR Briese adjourned the hearing to 30 August. The bail was $200 each. At court on 30 August 1972, Magistrate Herman convicted and fined all, including James, $25 with costs of $5. Pleas of guilty had been entered for all defendants, including some who had refused to make any plea. Most said they would not pay the fine. On 18 September in the Special Federal Court, Sydney, James refused to pay a fine of $75 for failing to register for national service. Magistrate Anable allowed him two months to pay. He told James if the fine was not paid in that time he would be imprisoned for 17 days. It is likely he was never again be prosecuted under the NSA. The government during 1971, and especially 1972, were reluctant to prosecute when the result would be jailing a young man. This was particularly in regard to a refusal to obey a call-up notice. This attracted 18 months’ imprisonment. The government aimed to minimize its political risk of having large numbers of young men in prison. All pending prosecutions under the NSA were stopped by the newly elected Whitlam Labor government in early December 1972.

Confirmatory Sources:

Canberra Times, 18 July 1972, p.18; 29 August 1972, p.10; 31 August 1972; 19 September 1972, p.8.p.8.

Tharunka, 18 October 1972, p.6.