Family Name:
Allen
Given Names:
Douglas Keith Pierson
Gender:
Male
Birth-Date:
21 September 1895
Death-Date:
20 January 1989
Marital Status:
Single
Age Range:
18 years old
Location:
VIC, Hawthorn
Occupation:
Unknown
Primary Motivation:
Conscientious Objector, pacifist-religious
Reason for Court/ Tribunal Appearance:
[1] Refusal to drill
[2] Refusal to drill
Court/ Name and Location:
[1] Police Court, Hawthorn
[2] Police Court, Hawthorn
Court/ Tribunal Hearing Date:
[1] 13 October 1913
[2] 3 March 1914
Court Outcome:
[1] Case adjourned for 3 months
[2] Convicted and imprisoned for 20 days
Military Event:
Boy Conscription 1911-1929
Further Information:
Douglas Allen was from Hawthorn a suburb of Melbourne of a Quaker family. He and his oldest brother, Harold, attended The Friend’s School in Hobart, Tasmania. Two younger brothers also attended the Quaker school.
Doug refused to drill under the Defense Act (DA). He conscientiously objected to war and military training based on his religious beliefs as a member of The Society of Friends (Quakers). He was summonsed to the Police Court at Hawthorn on 13 October 1913 because of his refusal to drill or attend parades. Douglas informed Magistrate P Cohen that his refusal was based on his Quaker beliefs. The magistrate pointed out that the DA did not provide for exemption based on conscientious objection grounds. His case was adjourned for 3 months with an offer by the military to assign him to non-combatant military duties. The magistrate told him he must comply. Three other boys appeared the same day and were all committed to imprisonment in Queenscliff Fort. Two other boys who were due in court the same day failed to appear. Warrants were issued for their arrest.
Harry continued with his non-compliance with the DA. He was summonsed again to the Police Court at Hawthorn again on 3 March 1914. He had not undertaken any drills or parades since his last court appearance. The magistrate convicted him and imprisoned him at Queenscliff Fort for 21 days. His mother was in court and protested the sentence. She told the magistrate that her son, was a member of the Society of Friends and was conscientiously opposed to war and preparation for war.
Sydney Crosland and Harry Flintoff were imprisoned at the Fort at the same time as Douglas, Sydney and Douglas were both Quakers and did not experience solitary confinement. Harry, who had a socialist background did. It is not known if the authorities further prosecuted Douglas. It is known that he went to London during WW1 and joined the Friend’s War Victims Relief Committee. Initially he served in France, from July 1916 until September 1917. He returned to London briefly and was then sent to join an Italian unit. It was probaly for this service taht earned him to be named, the first name, on the The Friend’s School Great War Honour Board.
David Whittier Allen and Harold Allen, also names on this Honour Roll would probably be part of the extended Allen family. Further research is being undertaken.
Confirmatory Sources:
Herald, 14 October 1913, p.9.
Age, 15 October 1913, p.15; 4 March 1914, p.11.
North West Post, 17 October 1913, p.3.
Register, 23 May 1914, p.7.
Advertiser, 25 May 1914, p.
Sally McGushin, Allen Family Notes, The Friends School Archives, North Hobart, Tasmania.
THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE HONOUR ROLL 