AFTER TERM IN ARMY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 75, 25 September 1941, Page 14

AFTER TERM IN ARMY

CONSCIENCE APPEAL

PLEA FOR YOUNG MAN

The case of a conscientious objector who was, in the words of his counsel (Mr. Evan Parry), "so sincere that he actually enlisted when he came to the conclusion that his pacifist views were not justified," was heard by the No. 4 Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday afternoon. The appellant was Neil Henry Trail, ai assistant accountant. After his evidence had been heard and he had been cross-examined by I the Crown representative (Mr. C. O. \ Bell), the hearing was adjourned to enable Mr. Parry to call corroborative evidence by the Rev. O. E. Burton and Mr. A. C. Barrington, president and secretary respectively of the Christian Pacifist Society, who are^.at present serving sentences in connection with thair activities, as. members of the society. Mr. Parry said that the appeal was unique because of the real genuineness of the appellant. He had become a pacifist and joined the Christian Pacifist Society in 1938 at the age of 18 or 19 years. He had taken an active part in the society, and shortly after the outbreak o" war in September. 1939, together with Mr. Burton, he addressed a meeting outside the grounds of Parliament House and was arrested. The Magistrate ordered him to come up for sentence when called upon. The appellant continued to do active work for the society and had his name taken on several occasions. "After that," said counsel, "he began to search his conscience and wonder whether he was doing the genuine thing in acting as .he was doing." He heard the arguments both for and against war, and decided that there was little between them. He came to the conclusion that his former views might have been wrong5 and he enlisted as a volunteer. He went into Trentha'm Camp and was commended for his excellent work, so much so that the officer who was second in command of his company chose him as batman. Then, gradually, what might b described as "the rot" set in, and the appellant found himself in a hopeless state of mental conflict. His whole being revolted against having to take part in military training, and his health began to give way. DISCHARGE FROM ARMY. It was significant, said Mr. Parry, that Trail was regarded as absolutely genuine by his superior officers and hac1 received most sympathetic treatment from them. After he had returned to camp from a period of absence without leave because of the delay he felt was occurring in dealing with his case, he faced a court-martial and eventually obtained his discharge from tht Army. ' In his statement the appellant said he knew now that he could not belong to the Army under any circumstances. He had resigned from the Christian Pacifist Society and the Peace Pledge Union before joining the Army, and had good reasons for not rejoining them. „ ■ ■ In reply to Mr. Bell, the appellant said that his reason for enlisting was that the greater body of public opinion seemed to be in favour of going to war. His attitude towards war was the same now as when he was discharged from the Army. He was quite prepared to put out a fire or help injured persons so long as the organisation he was associated with was not one organised for the purpose of taking human life. He could not take any part in destructive work. The hearing was adjourned for the taking of the corroborative evidence.