WAGG, Edward Robert Kerry (Bob)

Edward Family Name:

Wagg

Given Names:

Edward Robert Kerry (Bob)

Gender:

Male

Birth-Date:

28 January 1945

Death-Date:

Marital Status:

Single

Age:

20 years old

Location:

TAS, Hobart

Occupation:

University Student

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objection

Reason for Court Appearance:

Application for full exemption from military duties conscientious objector

Court Name and Location:

Magistrate Court, Melbourne

Court Hearing Date:

February 1970

Court Outcome:

Granted full exemption from military duties

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Bob was born on 28 February 1945. He was from Hobart in Tasmania. His father, Alfred, died in 1953 from injuries resulting from military service in the Middle East during WWII. Bob’s name was balloted in at the first ballot under the National Service Act 1964 (NSA). He applied for and received a deferment from call-up so he could complete his undergraduate and honour degrees. He studied economics and politics at the University of Tasmania. These studies included the politics of southeast Asia, including Vietnam. Bob said this was influential on the subsequent development of his conscientious opposition to the Vietnam war. He was involved in the Vietnamese Action Group whilst studying at the University.

He was called up in January 1969 and commenced his military training at Puckapunyal in Victoria. After he completed his basic training, he was transferred to Bonegilla in Victoria for corps training. Specifically, it was ordinance corps training, and the military camp was very close to the migrant camp. Bob was asked by the military authorities whether he wanted to volunteer for overseas service. He declined. On completion of the corps training, he was posted to 1 Central Ordinance Depot at Bandiana which is just outside Wodonga, Victoria. However, on arrival he was informed that he was to be sent to Canungra in southern Queensland in 3 weeks’ time. Bob remembers he travelled with another conscript, Chris Baker. Both were unimpressed as the training was in jungle warfare similar to what may be encountered in Vietnam. Neither Bob nor Chris had volunteered for overseas service. Their training was conducted by veterans from the Vietnam War where they explained hat in Vietnam villagers suspected of being Viet Cong were killed by dead squads. He also stated that after a battle wounded North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers were summarily shot. Bob also claimed that another Australian soldier said, he loved being on patrol because it was like been (sic being) on a rabbit hunt. Bob said the trainers emphasised to the conscripts that the Vietnam War was not covered by the Geneva Conventions. These revelations were impacting on the conscience of Bob. He also recollects one type of training was to run across a field while explosives and machine gun fire was above their heads. On one occasion Bob was asked to relieve the machine gunner but he said he managed to talk his way out of it.

After the jungle training at Cunungra he was transferred to Bandiana. At this time Bob’s family made representations to the Minister to have him exempted from being posted to Vietnam. The Minister for the Army, Phillip Lynch, was informed that Bob’s father had died as a result of being a soldier during WWII and that as a consequence his mother received a war widows’ pension. Bob stated that, he felt guilty about this and felt I should register for conscientious objection Chris had already done so and I had to attend his exemption hearing. He decided he would apply to be registered as a conscientious objector. He made out his application and presented it to the adjutant, who had been a German soldier during WWII. The adjutant ripped up the application exclaiming it was not on the correct form. Bob completed another application form which was accepted, and he was given leave without pay pending the outcome of his exemption hearing. The hearing was held during February 1970 and Bob was granted full exemption from military duties under the NSA.

In later life Bob was a public servant and teacher in private and public schools.

Confirmatory Sources:

Personal Interview, Robert Wagg, January 2025.