See also Field Marshal (Australia) Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Wagga Wagga (pronounced wogga wogga, informally called Wagga) is a city in New South Wales, Australia. ... Heidelberg Shops Heidelberg Arms Heidelberg Shops Artists Trail sign at Heidelberg Heidelberg is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... Note: This article is about the military usage of the word marshal. For other usages, see the end of this article. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Gallipoli peninsula (Turkish: , Greek: ) is located in Turkish Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. ... Combatants Australia, United States German Empire Commanders John Monash Casualties 976 KIA, 338 WIA 2000 KIA, 1600 POW The Battle of Hamel (4 July 1918) was a planned attack launched by the Australian Corps of the Australian Imperial Force against German positions in the town of Hamel in northern France... Combatants United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia Germany Commanders Henry Rawlinson Georg von der Marwitz Strength 4 Aus. ... The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in Northern France constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916– 17 during World War I; the Germans called it the Siegfried Line. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants Germany, Italy, Bulgaria Greece, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand Commanders Wilhelm List, Maximilian von Weichs Alexander Papagos, Henry Maitland Wilson, Thomas Blamey Strength Germany: 680,000 men,[1] 1200 tanks, 700 aircraft, Italy: 529,000 men Greece: 350,000 men, British Commonwealth: 58,000 men Casualties Italy: 13,755... Combatants Greece United Kingdom New Zealand Australia Germany Italy Commanders Bernard Freyberg Kurt Student Strength United Kingdom: 15,000 Greece: 11,000 Australia: 7,100 New Zealand: 6,700 Total: 40,000 (10,000 without fighting capability. ... The Syria-Lebanon campaign was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon in 1941, during World War II. The Allied offensive, also known as Operation Exporter, was aimed at preventing Nazi Germany from using Vichy territory as a springboard for attacks on the Allied stronghold of Egypt... Combatants Australia Japan Commanders Douglas MacArthur Thomas Blamey Sydney Rowell Edmund Herring Arthur Tubby Allen George Vasey Selwyn Porter Arnold Potts Hisaichi Terauchi Yosuke Yokoyama Tomitaro Horii Strength 2,000 plus reinforcements 10,000 plus reinforcements Casualties 725 killed 1,055 wounded Hundreds sick with disease 6,500 killed including... Combatants Australia, United States (engineering support and minor combat) Japan Commanders Cyril Clowes Shojiro Hayashi, Minoru Yano Strength 9,000 (half non-combat personnel) 2400 Casualties less than 200 dead 600 dead The Battle of Milne Bay was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Japanese marines... Combatants Australia United States Empire of Japan Commanders Douglas MacArthur Hatazô Adachi Strength ~30,000 ~10,000 Casualties  ?  ? The Salamaua-Lae campaign was a series of actions in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. Australian and United States forces sought to capture two major Japanese bases, one in... The Finisterre Range campaign was a series of actions in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. Australian and United States forces assaulted Japanese positions in the Finisterre Range of New Guinea. ... Combatants United States Australia New Zealand Fiji Empire of Japan Commanders Roy Geiger Theodore S. Wilkinson Oscar Griswold Stanley Savige Harukichi Hyakutake Masatane Kanda Strength 126,000 troops,[1] 728 aircraft[2] 65,000 troops,[3] 154 aircraft[4] Casualties 1,243 dead[5] 44,000 dead[6] The Bougainville... Australian soldiers in New Britain in 1945 (AWM 092342) The New Britain Campaign was a World War II campaign fought by the Allies between December 1943 and the end of the war to secure and protect air bases on the island of New Britain. ... The Borneo campaign of 1945 was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific Area, during World War II. In a series of amphibious assaults between May 1 and July 21, the Australian I Corps, under General Leslie Morshead, attacked Japanese forces occupying the island. ... The Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire is a British honour, a class in the Order of the British Empire, which is a British order of chivalry established in 1917. ... Military Badge of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... The dignity of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. ... http://en. ... DSO medal The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) is a military award for gallantry or otherwise commendable service. ... Field Marshal is the highest rank of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Field Marshal. ...

Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey GBE KCB CMG DSO ED (24 January 1884 – 27 May 1951) was an Australian General of World War II, and Australia's first (and only) Field Marshal. Note: This article is about the military usage of the word marshal. For other usages, see the end of this article. ... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... Badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath)[1] is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... DSO medal The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... Ed, ed or ED can mean any of the following: // ed (text editor), a UNIX text editor ed (biblical reference), an altar or related place in some English translations of the Bible. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Note: This article is about the military usage of the word marshal. For other usages, see the end of this article. ...

He commenced his soldiering as a 'citizen soldier', and served as a staff officer at Gallipoli. The pinnacle of his career was during World War II, as Commander-in-Chief, Australian Military Forces, serving simultaneously in international command as Commander-in-Chief Allied Land Forces in the South-West Pacific Area (SWPA) under American General Douglas MacArthur. On 2 September 1945, Blamey was with MacArthur on USS Missouri (BB-63) and signed the Japanese surrender document on behalf of Australia. He then flew to Morotai and personally accepted the surrender of the remaining Japanese in the South-West Pacific. Gallipoli peninsula (Turkish: , Greek: ) is located in Turkish Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 - April 5, 1964), was an American Field Marshal (only in the Philippines) and general who played a prominent role in the Pacific theater of World War II. He was poised to command the invasion of Japan in November 1945 but was instead instructed to accept... September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Radars: AN/SPS-49 Air Search Radar AN/SPS-67 Surface Search Radar Fire control: 4 × Mk 37 Gun Fire Control 2 × Mk 38 Gun Director 1 × Mk 40 Gun Director EW: AN/SLQ-32 Other: AN/SLQ-25 NIXIE Decoy System 8 × Super Rapid Bloom Rocket Launchers (SRBOC) Armor... Morotai Island (695 sq mi/1,800 km²) is an island located in the Halmahera group of eastern Indonesias Maluku Islands (Moluccas). ...

Pre-First World War

The seventh of ten children, Blamey grew up near Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. After some earlier farming failures, his father ran a small farm and worked as a drover and shearing overseer. Blamey acquired the bush skills associated with his father’s enterprises and became a sound horseman. He was a keen and efficient member of the army cadets at his school. He passed a test and became a police officer, the test included shooting targets etc. Wagga Wagga (pronounced wogga wogga, informally called Wagga) is a city in New South Wales, Australia. ...

Blamey began his working life in 1899 as a trainee school teacher in the Wagga Wagga area before moving to Western Australia in 1903 to continue his teaching career. He was involved in school cadets as a teacher at Wagga Wagga and in Western Australia.

Somewhat surprisingly in view of his later reputation as a womaniser and heavy drinker, he was then a teetotaller heavily involved in the Methodist Church and had been since childhood. By early 1906 he was being encouraged by the Church leaders in Western Australia to enter training as a minister, which he was disposed to do.

However, upon the creation of the Cadet Instructional Staff of the Australian Military Forces he saw a new opportunity. He sat the entrance exam and came third in Australia, but failed to secure an appointment as there were no vacancies in Western Australia. After persuasive correspondence with the military authorities he was appointed to a position in Victoria with the rank of lieutenant, commencing duty in November 1906 with responsibility for school cadets in Victoria.

Blamey married Minnie Millard on 8 September 1909. His first child, a boy named Dolf, was born on 29 June 1910. His second child, a boy named Thomas, was born four years later.

Blamey was promoted to captain in 1910. In 1911, after previous candidates had failed it, he was the first Australian officer to pass the demanding entrance test for the British Staff College, which trained officers for higher command. He began his studies at the Staff College at Quetta in India in 1912, accompanied by his wife and first child. He performed very well, completing the course in 1913.

Blamey was sent to Britain for more training in May 1914, visiting Turkey (including the Dardanelles), Germany and Belgium en route. He spent a brief time on attachment to the 4th Dragoon Guards and then took up duties on the staff of the Wessex Division, at that time entering its annual camp. On 1 July 1914, he was promoted to major. The 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division was a British Territorial Army division formed in September 1939. ...

First World War

Blamey served in the 1st AIF in the First World War. In mid-1914 Blamey had been in Britain on the staff of the Wessex Division. In November he sailed for Egypt, along with Harry Chauvel, to join the Australian contingent and became intelligence officer on the staff of the Australian 1st Division for the Battle of Gallipoli. During the landing at Anzac Cove, Blamey was sent to evaluate the need for reinforcements by Colonel M'Cay's 2nd Brigade on 400 Plateau. He confirmed that they were in such need, and the reinforcements were sent. (Redirected from 1st AIF) The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from August 15, 1914, following Britains declaration of war on Germany. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division was a British Territorial Army division formed in September 1939. ... General Sir Henry George Harry Chauvel GCMG KCB (April 16, 1865 - March 4, 1945) was a general officer of the First Australian Imperial Force that fought during World War I. He is less well known than a contemporary, General John Monash, because he served in the Middle East theatre and... The Australian 1st Division was formed in August 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, as part of the Australian Imperial Force. ... Combatants British Empire Australia India Newfoundland New Zealand United Kingdom France Ottoman Empire Commanders Sir Ian Hamilton Otto von Sanders Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Strength 5 divisions (initial) 14 divisions (final) 6 divisions Casualties 141,109 251,309 The Battle of Gallipoli took place at Gallipoli from April 1915 to... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Portrait of MCay, circa 1901. ...

On the night of 13 May 1915, Blamey, in his capacity as intelligence officer, led a patrol consisting of himself, Sergeant J. H. Will and Bombardier A. A. Orchard, behind the Turkish lines in an effort to locate the Olive Grove guns that had been harassing the beach. Near Pine Ridge, an enemy party of eight Turks approached and one of them went to bayonet Orchard, so Blamey shot him with his revolver. In the action that followed, six Turks were killed. Blamey withdrew his patrol back to the Australian lines without locating the guns. Later, examination of the fuse setting on a dud round revealed that the guns were much further to the south than had been realised.

Blamey was always interested in technical innovation. He was instrumental in the adoption of the periscope rifle at Gallipoli, an instrument which he saw during an inspection of the front line. He arranged for the inventor, Lance Corporal W. C. B. Beech, to be seconded to division headquarters to develop the idea. Within a few days, the design was perfected and periscope rifles began to be used throughout the Australian trenches.

In July 1915 Blamey was promoted to lieutenant colonel and joined the staff of the newly forming Australian 2nd Division in Egypt as its Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General (AA&QMG) - the senior administrative officer of the division. Its commander, Major General James Gordon Legge preferred to have an Australian colonel in this post as he felt that a British officer might not take such care of the troops. However, after the Australian forces moved to France in 1916, a conflict between GSO1 of the Australian 2nd Division and his British commander saw Blamey return to the 1st Division as GSO1, in which capacity he was involved in the Battle of Pozières, gaining credit for the attack which captured the town. In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... The Australian 2nd Division was formed from reinforcements training in Egypt on July 10, 1915 as part of the Australian Imperial Force to fight in World War I. It fought at France where it was the last Australian division to see combat. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Lieutenant General James Gordon Legge CB, CMG (15 August 1863 - 18 September 1947) was an Australian Army Lieutenant General who served in World War I. Unlike other generals, he never accepted any Imperial honours. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Australian 2nd Division was formed from reinforcements training in Egypt on July 10, 1915 as part of the Australian Imperial Force to fight in World War I. It fought at France where it was the last Australian division to see combat. ... The Battle of Pozières was a two week struggle for the French village of Pozières, and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ...

Blamey briefly held battalion and brigade command posts in late 1916 and early 1917, but British Expeditionary Force orders forbid the use of staff college graduates in command positions. He was promoted to brigadier general on 1 June 1918 and became chief of corps staff of Lieutenant General Sir John Monash's Australian Corps. He played a significant role in the success of Monash's corps in the final months of the war. Indeed, Monash rated him as one of the key factors in his Corps' success in the Battle of Amiens in August and the attack on the Hindenburg Line in September. Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols A battalion is a military unit usually consisting of between two and six companies and typically commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. ... In military science a brigade is a military unit that is part of a division and includes regiments (where that level exists), or (in modern armies) is composed of several battalions (typically two to four) and directly attached supporting units. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Sir John Monash General Sir John Monash, GCMG, KCB, VD (27 June 1865 – 8 October 1931), Australian military commander of the First World War, was born in Melbourne, Victoria, to parents of Prussian-Jewish origin (the family name was originally spelled Monasch). ... The Australian Corps was a World War I army corps that contained all five Australian infantry divisions serving on the British army in France. ... Combatants United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia Germany Commanders Henry Rawlinson Georg von der Marwitz Strength 4 Aus. ... Combatants United Kingdom, France, Australia, United States Germany Commanders Ferdinand Foch Georg von der Marwitz Strength 4 British armies 1 French army American Expeditionary Force Defensive forces and gun emplacements of the Hindenburg Line The Battle of the Hindenburg Line, which began September 18, 1918, was a key turning point...

Blamey remained interested in technological innovation. He was impressed the capabilities of the new models of tanks and pressed for their use at Battle of Hamel, where they played an important part in the success of that battle. He noted the wide use that the Germans had made of their Mustard gas and took extraordinary steps to arrange for a supply of mustard gas shells for the assault on the Hindenburg Line in September. For his services as Corps Chief of Staff, Blamey was made a Companion of the Bath (CB). In all, he was mentioned in dispatches seven times. Combatants Australia, United States German Empire Commanders John Monash Casualties 976 KIA, 338 WIA 2000 KIA, 1600 POW The Battle of Hamel (4 July 1918) was a planned attack launched by the Australian Corps of the Australian Imperial Force against German positions in the town of Hamel in northern France... Badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath)[1] is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) is a military award for gallantry or otherwise commendable service. ...

Inter-War Years

Blamey returned to Australia in late 1919. Blamey then became director of Military Operations at Army Headquarters. In May 1920 he became Deputy Chief of General Staff. His first major task was the creation of the Royal Australian Air Force. In August he was sent to London to be Australia's representative on the Imperial General Staff. Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... May is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) was of the title of the professional commander of the British Army from 1908 until 1964. ...

When the Chief of General Staff (CGS), Major General Sir Cyril Brudenell White, retired in 1923, Blamey was expected to succeed him as CGS as he had as chief of staff of the Australian Corps in France. However there were objections from more senior officers, so the Inspector General, Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel, was made CGS as well, and Blamey was given the new post of Second CGS, in which he performed most of the duties of CGS. Chief of the Army in reverse chronological order Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, 28 June 2002 to present Lieutenant General Peter Cosgrove, July 2000 to 28 June 2002 Lieutenant General Frank Hickling, June 1998 to July 2000 Lieutenant General John Sanderson, June 1995 to June 1998 Chief of the General Staff... General Sir Cyril Brudenell White, KCB, KCMG, KCVO, DSO (1876 – 13 August 1940), Australian soldier, was Chief of the General Staff of the Australian Army from 1920 to 1923 and again from March to August 1940, when he was killed in the Canberra air disaster, 1940. ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Henry George Harry Chauvel (b. ...

On 1 September 1925 Blamey transferred from the Permanent Military Forces to the Militia. 1 May 1926 he took command of the 10th Infantry Brigade, part of the 3rd Division. On 23 March 1931, Blamey took command of the division and was promoted to major general, one of only four militia officers promoted to this rank between 1929 and 1939. In 1937 he was transferred to the unattached list.

He was appointed as Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police, where scandal first found him. During a raid on a brothel, a friend of his was found to be in possession of Blamey's police badge. A second scandal occurred in 1936 when Blamey attempted to cover up details of the shooting of a police officer. This ultimately led to his dismissal as Chief Commissioner. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A brothel, also known as a bordello or whorehouse, is an establishment specifically dedicated to prostitution, providing the prostitutes a place to meet and to have sex with the clients. ...

As Police Commissioner he directed the 'political police squad' to break up Unemployed Workers Movement meetings at Sydney Road in working class Brunswick. Blamey's treatment of the unionists was typical of his hardline anti-communist beliefs and as such his relations with left-wing governments were tense. Along with many senior army and ex-army officers, he was a leading member of the clandestine far-right wing organisation League of National Security. The LNS was reportedly a response to the rise of communism in Australia, its members ready to seize arms from military installations to stop a communist revolution. Sydney Road, Brunswick, looking south to the central business district Sydney Road is a major thouroughfare in the northern suburbs of Brunswick and Coburg in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... Brunswick is an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ...

From early 1938 Blamey supplemented his income by making radio broadcasts on international affairs. Blamey was appalled at Nazi Germany's persecution of Jews.

Later that year, Blamey was appointed chairman of the Commonwealth government's Manpower Committee and controller-general of recruiting. As such, he laid the foundation for the expansion of the Army in the event of war with Germany or Japan, which he now regarded as inevitable.

His first wife died in 1935. On 5 April 1939 Blamey married a 35-year-old fashion artist, Olga Ora Farnsworth at St John's Anglican Church, Toorak.

Second World War

Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey - Relief from Blamey Square, Canberra.

On 13 October 1939, Blamey was promoted lieutenant general and appointed to command the 6th Division, the first formation of the new Second Australian Imperial Force. Generals John Lavarack and Gordon Bennett also were considered for the post, and had their supporters, but Blamey was the preferred choice of Prime Minister Robert Menzies. Menzies limited Blamey's choice of commanders, by insisting that they be selected from the Militia rather than the PMF. Field Marshall Sir Thomas Blamey, leading to the end of World War Two, commanded all Australian military forces and commanded all forces in the South-West Pacific Area. ... Field Marshall Sir Thomas Blamey, leading to the end of World War Two, commanded all Australian military forces and commanded all forces in the South-West Pacific Area. ... For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... The most well-known 6th Division in the Australian Army was a unit in the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) during World War II. (The 6th Division name was previously used for a short-lived World War I unit, formed from First Australian Imperial Force troops in England, in... The Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) was the name given to the volunteer units of the Australian Army in World War II. The 2nd AIF was formed, from 1939 onwards, to fight overseas: most army units were Militia (reserve) units and under Australian law at the time, Militia troops... Lieutenant-General Gordon Bennett Lieutenant-General Henry Gordon Bennett, CB, CMG, DSO (April 16, 1887 – August 1, 1962), Australian soldier, served in both World War I and World War II. Despite highly decorated achievements during World War I, including at Gallipoli, Bennett is best remembered for his role in the... Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, KT, AK, CH, FRS, QC (20 December 1894 – 14 May 1978), Australian politician, was the twelfth and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia, serving eighteen and a half years. ...

Blamey travelled to the Middle-East with the Second AIF as its commander. He occasionally clashed with the British Commanders-in-Chief Middle East, General Archibald Wavell and his successor, General Claude Auchinleck, over the employment of Australian troops. He refused to allow his troops to perform police duties in Palestine, and insisted that Australian forces remain together as cohesive units, and no Australian forces were to be deployed or engaged without the prior consent of the Australian government. The government strengthened his hand by promoting him to full general, and Blamey was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief Middle East. The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was the name given to two all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II. First Australian Imperial Force (1914-18) Second Australian Imperial Force (1939-45) Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, Australia had a... Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell (May 5, 1883 _ May 24, 1950) was a British General and the commander of British Army forces in the Middle East during World War II. He led British forces to victory over the Italians, only to be defeated by the German army. ... Field Marshal Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck, GCB, GCIE, CSI, DSO, OBE (June 21, 1884 - March 23, 1981), nicknamed The Auk, was a British army commander during World War II. // Born in Aldershot, he grew up in impoverished circumstances, but was able through hard work and scholarships to graduate from...

However, Blamey was not inflexible and permitted Australian units to be detached when there was a genuine military need. Because the situation in the Middle East tended to lurch from crisis to crisis, this resulted in his troops becoming widely scattered at times. Blamey has been criticised for allowing Australian troops to be sent on a dangerous mission to Greece after he had been told that Menzies had approved and Menzies had been informed that Blamey had approved. Blamey was under no illusions about the odds of success and immediately prepared plans for an evacuation. Blamey's foresight and determination saved many of his men but he lost credibility when he chose his son to fill the one remaining seat on the aircraft carrying him out of Greece.

In the Syrian campaign (against the Vichy French), Blamey took decisive action to resolve the command difficulties caused by General Henry Maitland Wilson's attempt to direct the fighting from the King David Hotel in Jerusalem by interposing Lieutenant General John Lavarack's I Corps headquarters. The Syria-Lebanon campaign was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon in 1941, during World War II. The Allied offensive, also known as Operation Exporter, was aimed at preventing Nazi Germany from using Vichy territory as a springboard for attacks on the Allied stronghold of Egypt... Motto Travail, famille, patrie French: Work, family, fatherland Unoccupied zone of Vichy France (until November 1942) Capital Vichy Language(s) French Religion Roman Catholic Government Dictatorship Head of state  - 1940 — 1944 Philippe Pétain President of the Council  - 1940 — 1942 Philippe Pétain  - 1942 - 1944 Pierre Laval Legislature National Assembly... Henry Maitland Wilson, Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean. ... The King David Hotel, built in Jerusalem with locally quarried pink sandstone, was opened in 1931. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... I Corps of the Australian Army was the main frontline corps of the army during World War II. Various Australian and other Allied divisions came under its control at various times. ...

Later Blamey forced another showdown with the Auchinleck over his insistence that the 9th Division be withdrawn from the Tobruk, allowing his command to be concentrated in Syria. Blamey was supported by Prime Minister John Curtin and Auchinleck was forced to back down. The 9th Division of the Australian Army was formed to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF). ... Combatants Australia United Kingdom South Africa Poland Czechoslovakia Germany Italy Commanders Leslie Morshead Erwin Rommel Strength 14,000 35,000? Casualties Britain: 9009 killed 941 captured estimated 12,000 total 8,000 The Siege of Tobruk was a lengthy confrontation between Axis and Allied forces, mostly Australian, in the North... John Curtin (8 January 1885 – 5 July 1945), Australian politician and 14th Prime Minister of Australia, led Australia when the Australian mainland came under direct military threat during the Japanese advance in World War II. Many Australians regard him as the countrys greatest political leader and greatest Prime Minister. ...

For his campaigns in the Middle East, he was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 1 January 1942. Badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath)[1] is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ...

In 1942, Blamey was recalled to Australia to become the Commander-in-Chief AMF, and then Commander of Allied Land Forces as well. Some of Blamey's most controversial actions concern the period after the Japanese declared war, and United States General Douglas MacArthur retreated to Australia. 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ... Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 - April 5, 1964), was an American Field Marshal (only in the Philippines) and general who played a prominent role in the Pacific theater of World War II. He was poised to command the invasion of Japan in November 1945 but was instead instructed to accept...

MacArthur had a low opinion of Australian fighting men, and was highly criticial of their performance during the early battles in New Guinea. Blamey appeared to be keen not to antagonise MacArthur or publicly hold a dissenting view. For example, during a speech to 21st Brigade, 2nd AIF in 1942, he accused the men in it of being "rabbits who run". This interpretation^[1] of cowardice against the men who had turned back the Japanese on the Kokoda Trail Campaign was received by them with intense bitterness, and was widely seen as reflecting his own inability to stand up to MacArthur. However, when American troops were checked at Buna, Blamey turned the tables on MacArthur and told him that he would rather send in more Australians, because "at least they would fight". Later, Blamey thwarted MacArthur's plan to use the Australian Army primarily for logistic support, using American troops for combat roles. The Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) was the name given to the volunteer units of the Australian Army in World War II. The 2nd AIF was formed, from 1939 onwards, to fight overseas: most army units were Militia (reserve) units and under Australian law at the time, Militia troops... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... Combatants Australia Empire of Japan Commanders Douglas MacArthur Thomas Blamey Sydney Rowell Edmund Herring Arthur Tubby Allen George Vasey Selwyn Porter Arnold Potts Hisaichi Terauchi Yosuke Yokoyama Tomitaro Horii Strength 2,000 plus reinforcements 10,000 plus reinforcements Casualties 725 killed 1,055 wounded Hundreds sick with disease 6,500... Combatants Australia, United States Japan Commanders George Vasey (Australia); Edwin F. Harding/ Robert L. Eichelberger (United States) Ken Yamagata Strength 20,000+ 7,400+ Casualties 3,500 (not counting tropical diseases); 1,300 Australian and 1,000 US personnel killed in action. ...

The relationship between MacArthur and Blamey was generally good, and they had great respect for each other's abilities. MacArthur's main problem was that as Commander-in-Chief AMF, Blamey was not entirely under his command. MacArthur accepted a number of changes that Blamey made to his strategy, the most notable of which was probably moving the landing on New Britain to before the attack on Madang. The only major dispute with MacArthur that Blamey lost was his attempt to prevent the 7th Division from being sent to Balikpapan in 1945, an operation that Blamey thought was unnecessary. On this occasion, Blamey was not supported by the government, and the operation went ahead as planned. Australian soldiers in New Britain in 1945 (AWM 092342) The New Britain Campaign was a World War II campaign fought by the Allies between December 1943 and the end of the war to secure and protect air bases on the island of New Britain. ... Madang Lighthouse Madang (old German name: Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen) is the capital of Madang Province and is a town with a population of 27,420 (in 2005) on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. ... The 7th Division of the Australian Army was formed to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Combatants Australia, United States Japan For other uses of this term, see Battle of Balikpapan. ...

Blamey's conduct of the New Guinea campaign of 1942 attracted scathing criticism at time from armchair strategists, who felt that he was packing New Guinea with troops that would be forced to surrender like the troops in Singapore and Bataan if they were cut off by the Japanese Navy. However, after the Battle of Midway, they no longer had the strength to do this. At the Battle of Wau in 1943, Blamey won the battle by acting decisively on intelligence, shifting the 17th Infantry Brigade from Milne Bay in time to defeat the Japanese attack. For this campaign, he was made a Knight Grand Cross (Military) of the Order of the British Empire on 28 May 1943. The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II. Fighting in the Australian mandated Territory of New Guinea (the north-eastern part of the island of New Guinea and surrounding islands) and Dutch New Guinea, between Allied and Japanese forces, commenced with the Japanese... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Bataan Region: Central Luzon (Region III) Capital: Balanga City Founded: —1754 Population: 2000 census—557,659 (46th largest) Density—406 per km² (12th highest) Area: 1,373. ... Combatants United States of America Empire of Japan Commanders Chester W. Nimitz Frank J. Fletcher Raymond A. Spruance Isoroku Yamamoto Chuichi Nagumo Tamon Yamaguchi † Strength 3 carriers, ~50 support ships, 233 carrier aircraft, 127 land-based aircraft 4 carriers, 7 battleships, ~150 support ships, 248 carrier aircraft, 16 floatplanes Casualties... Australian soldiers unloading transport planes at an airfield near Wau, in mid-1943. ... Battle of Milne Bay Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date August 25, 1942 – September 5, 1942 Place Milne Bay, New Guinea Result Allied victory The Battle of Milne Bay was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Japanese marines attacked the Australian base at Milne... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ...

In 1943, he captured Lae with a classic double envelopment, with the 7th Division attacking from the west by air and the 9th Division from the east by sea. There was criticism from Earle Page of the way that Blamey conducted operations in malarious areas. Administrative arrangements for the final campaigns were criticised by the government, although matters were not entirely in Blamey's hands, and the critical shortage of logistical troops was caused by the government's own actions. Lae is the second largest city of Papua New Guinea with a population of approx 120,000. ... The 7th Division of the Australian Army was formed to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. ... The 9th Division of the Australian Army was formed to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF). ... Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page (August 8, 1880 – December 20, 1961), Australian politician, was the eleventh Prime Minister of Australia. ...

Blamey remained a devotee of new technology, obtaining DUKWs and LVTs for the Lae operation. Later he attempted to acquire helicopters, but met resistance from the RAAF. DUKW The DUKW (popularly pronounced DUCK) is a six-wheel-drive amphibious truck that was originally designed inside General Motors Corporation during World War II for transporting goods and troops over land and water and for use approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious attacks. ... The Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) was an amphibious vehicle used by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Army during World War II. It was widely known as amphtrack, amtrak, amtrac etc. ... The RAAF Roundel is based on that of the British Royal Air Force, with the central circle replaced by a Kangaroo, a symbol of Australia. ...

Blamey's treatment of senior officers was also controversial. Biographers of many of Blamey's World War II contemporaries, including Generals John Lavarack and Gordon Bennett and Brigadier Potts, have claimed that their subjects were dealt with unfairly, and in some cases atrociously, by Blamey — in ways ranging from holding rivals back from promotion, through to their dismissal from command appointments in order to cover up Blamey's own shortcomings. At Finschhafen, Blamey responded to a request from Lieutenant General Sir Iven Mackay to relieve Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Herring by immediately sending Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Morshead, even though Herring was a friend and Blamey retained confidence in him. Later in the war there was political criticism of the way that Blamey had "side tracked" various generals, something that was probably inevitable in an Army that was rapidly shrinking in size. Lieutenant-General Gordon Bennett Lieutenant-General Henry Gordon Bennett, CB, CMG, DSO (April 16, 1887 – August 1, 1962), Australian soldier, served in both World War I and World War II. Despite highly decorated achievements during World War I, including at Gallipoli, Bennett is best remembered for his role in the... Brigadier Arnold William Potts DSO MC (16 September 1896 - 1 January 1968) was an Australian grazier, served in World War I, and led 21st Brigade of the Second AIF during its desperate, heroic and ultimately successful defence of the Kokoda Trail duringWorld War II. First World War Second World War... Finschhafen is a district on the northeast coast of the Morobe province of Papua New Guinea. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Iven Gifford Mackay was born on 7 April 1882 at Grafton, New South Wales, and was educated at Newington College. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Edmund Francis Herring, KCMG, KBE, DSO, MC, ED (2 September 1892 – 5 January 1982) was an Australian Army officer during World War II, was a Lieutenant governor of Victoria, and was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Lieutenant General Sir Leslie James Morshead, KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO, ED (September 18, 1889 – September 26, 1959) was an Australian soldier with a distinguished career in both world wars. ...

Blamey was abruptly retired in 1946. He returned to Melbourne, where he devoted himself to business affairs, to writing and to promoting the welfare of ex-service personnel. In the late 1940s he became involved in 'The Association', an organisation similar to the earlier 'White Army', which was established to counter a possible communist coup. Blamey was promoted to field marshal on 8 June 1950, after Menzies became Prime Minister again. Shortly afterwards, he became seriously ill and was forced to receive his field marshal's baton from the Governor-General in his hospital bed. He died of hypertensive cerebral haemorrhage on 27 May 1951 at the Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg, and was cremated. Crowds estimated at 250,000 lined the streets of Melbourne at his state funeral. For pallbearers, he had ten of his lieutenant generals: Frank Berryman, William Bridgeford, Edmund Herring, Iven Mackay, Leslie Morshead, John Northcott, Sydney Rowell, Stanley Savige, Vernon Sturdee, and Henry Wells . Note: This article is about the military usage of the word marshal. For other usages, see the end of this article. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Governor-General (or Governor General) is a term used both historically and currently to designate the appointed representative of a head of state or their government for a particular territory, historically in a colonial context, but no longer necessarily in that form. ... A cerebral hemorrhage is a condition in the brain in which a blood vessel leaks. ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Heidelberg and the other cities of the Neckar valley The castle (Schloss) above the town Main Street (Hauptstrasse) Shopping district View from the so called alley of philosophers (Philosophenweg) towards the Old Town, with Heidelberg Castle, Heiliggeist Church and the Old Bridge Heidelberg is a city in Baden-Württemberg... Frank Horton Berryman, KCVO, CB, CBE, DSO, psc, pac (11 April 1894 – 28 May 1981) was an Australian Army officer during World War II. // Frank Horton Berryman was born in Geelong, Victoria on 11 April 1894, the son of William Lee Berryman and Annie Jane Horton. ... Edmund Francis Herring, KCMG, KBE, DSO, MC, ED (2 September 1892 – 5 January 1982) was an Australian Army officer during World War II, was a Lieutenant governor of Victoria, and was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State... Iven Gifford Mackay was born on 7 April 1882 at Grafton, New South Wales, and was educated at Newington College. ... Lieutenant General Sir Leslie James Morshead, KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO, ED (September 18, 1889 – September 26, 1959) was an Australian soldier with a distinguished career in both world wars. ... General Sir John Northcott KCMG(1950) KCVO(1954) MVO(1927) CB(1941) (Born March 24, 1890, Creswick, Victoria; Died August 4, 1966, Wahroonga, New South Wales) Governor of New South Wales August 1, 1946 - August 1, 1957. ... Lieutenant General Sir Stanley George Savige KBE, CB, DSO, MC (June 26, 1890 – May 15, 1954), was a decorated soldier of the Australian Imperial Force in World War I, and later a general in the Australian Army during World War II. Sir Stanley Savige was instrumental in the establishment of... Henry Wells (December 12, 1805 - December 10, 1878) was an American businessman. ...

Posthumous reputation

Memorial statue of Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey in Kings Domain, Melbourne.

Blamey is honoured in Australia in various ways, not least by the square named in his honour around which is situated the Russell Offices headquarters of the Australian Defence Force and Department of Defence in the national capital, Canberra. A larger statue is in Kings Domain, Melbourne. The Australian Army Recruit Training Centre at Kapooka, "Blamey Barracks", and some streets within many Australian Army Barracks establishments (eg. "Blamey Road") are named in his honour. Blamey Street and Blamey Park in North Ryde NSW are both named in his honour. Download high resolution version (600x800, 153 KB)Statue of Field Marshall Sir Thomas Blamey in Kings Domain, Melbourne. ... Download high resolution version (600x800, 153 KB)Statue of Field Marshall Sir Thomas Blamey in Kings Domain, Melbourne. ... Kings Domain is part of the Domain Parklands in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on the south side of the Yarra River, that incorporates the Alexandra Gardens, Queen Victoria Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens. ... The Australian Defence Force numbers about 53,000 full-time active duty personnel plus another 20,700 reservists. ... A defence minister (Commonwealth English) or defense minister (American English) is a cabinet portfolio (position) which regulates the armed forces in a sovereign nation. ... For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ... Melbournes CBD has grown to straddle the Yarra River in three major precincts. ... North Ryde is a suburb in the north of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ...

His papers are held in the Australian War Memorial, where his portrait hangs and his field marshal's baton is on display. The eternal flame at the heart of the Memorial keeps the spirit of the fallen alive The Australian War Memorial The Australian War Memorial is Australias national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organizations who have died in the wars of the Commonwealth of...

Nevertheless, Blamey's posthumous reputation is not high, and he has been eclipsed in the public memory by figures such as Sir John Monash, who is usually described as Australia's greatest soldier (a sentiment which Blamey himself would have endorsed), and Sir Edward Dunlop, the wartime surgeon. Opinions about Blamey are polarised. While some historians and contemporaries view him as an inspired general, whose energy, skill and political acumen built the Australian Army into the highly professional organisation it became, others have judged him as a spiteful, immoral and ultimately cowardly man who was ready to sacrifice anyone in order to preserve or advance his own position. Sir John Monash General Sir John Monash, GCMG, KCB, VD (27 June 1865 – 8 October 1931), Australian military commander of the First World War, was born in Melbourne, Victoria, to parents of Prussian-Jewish origin (the family name was originally spelled Monasch). ... Brass relief of Dunlop in uniform kyle was here Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Ernest Edward Weary Dunlop, KStJ, CMG, AC, OBE, MS, FRACS, FACS, SSc Punjabi (HON.), (Honourary Colonel), (July 12, 1907 - July 2, 1993) was an Australian surgeon who was renowned for his leadership whilst being held prisoner by the... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ...

Dates and age of rank

• Lieutenant - November 1906 - 22 years
• Captain - 1 December 1910 - 26 years
• Major - 1 July 1914 - 30 years
• Lieutenant Colonel - 26 July 1915 - 31 years
• Colonel - 1 December 1916 - 32 years
• Brigadier General - 1 June 1918 - 34 years
• Major General - 23 March 1931 - 47 years
• Lieutenant General - 13 October 1939 - 55 years
• General - 24 September 1941 - 57 years
• Field Marshal - 8 June 1950 - 66 years

List of Honours

• DSO, Distinguished Service Order; 1917
• CMG, Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George; 1918
• CB, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath; 1919 Military division
• Knight Bachelor, Kt; 1935 as Commissioner of Police in Victoria
• KCB, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath; 1942 Military division
• GBE, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; 1943 Military division
• Mentioned in Despatches; seven times in WWI; 1915,1917 (2), 1918 (2), 1919 (2), and once in WWII; 1941
• France Croix de Guerre; 1919
• Greek War Cross-First Class (1940); 1944
• Distinguished Service Cross (United States); 1944
• Netherlands Order of Orange-Nassau Grand Cross; 1947

DSO medal The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... Badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath)[1] is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... The dignity of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. ... Badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath)[1] is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) is a military award for gallantry or otherwise commendable service. ... The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of both Belgium and France which was first created in 1915. ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... Order of Orange-Nassau Knights Medal, military division (male version) The Order of Orange-Nassau (Dutch: Orde van Oranje Nassau) is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was first created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of...

References

1. ^ Dudley McCarthy, South-West Pacific Area: First Year, pp. 334-335 [1]

Books

• Hetherington, John, Blamey, Controversial Soldier : a biography of Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey ISBN 095920430X
• Horner, David, Blamey : The Commander-in-Chief ISBN 1864487348
• Carlyon, Norman D., I Remember Blamey ISBN 0725103833

Links

Blamey Biography on Australian Dictionary of Biography