Australian Army General. A highly decorated veteran of World Wars I and II, he rose in rank to become the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces and Commander of Allied Land Forces in the South West Pacific Theater under General Douglas MacArthur. The 7th of ten children, his father was a farmer who emigrated from Cornwall, England. After working as a schoolteacher, he enlisted in the Australian Army in 1906 and by 1911 he was promoted to the rank of major. When World War I broke out in the summer of 1914, he was sent to Egypt and assigned to Australia's 1st Division and participated in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey. In 1916 he was transferred to the Western Front in Europe where he saw combat action at the Battle of Pozières, the Battle of Hamel, the Battle of Amiens, and the Battle of St. Quentin Canal, all in France, and was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. After the end of World War I, he returned to Australia and became Deputy Chief to the General Staff in May 1920 and created the Royal Australian Air Force. In September 1925 he transferred to the Australian Militia and became a part-time soldier for the next 14 years, assuming command of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Army Division and Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police. In March 1931 he was promoted to the rank of major general and became commander of the 3rd Army Division. In October 1939, following the outbreak of World War II, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and became commander of the 6th Division of the newly formed 2nd Australian Imperial Force. The following February he was appointed commander of the newly formed 1st Corps and was sent to the Middle East and saw combat at Battle of Greece (April 1941), the Battle of Crete (May 1941), and the Syria–Lebanon campaign (June to July 1941). In early 1942 he was transferred to the South West Pacific Theater where he served as Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces and Commander of Allied Land Forces, South West Pacific Area and served in New Guinea during the Kokoda Track campaign (July to November 1942), the Battle of Milne Bay (August to September 1942), the Salamaua–Lae campaign (April 1942 to September 1943), the Finisterre Range campaign (September 1943 to April 1944), the Bougainville campaign November 1944), the New Britain campaign (December 1943 to August 1945), and also the Borneo campaign (May to August 1945). On September 2, 1945 he signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender in Tokyo Bay, Japan. In January 1946 he retired from the Australian Army with 40 years of military service and returned to Melbourne, Australia to devote his time to his business affairs. Among his military and civilian awards and decorations include the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, the Knight Bachelor Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, the Distinguished Service Order, the Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John, the British Efficiency Decoration, the French Croix de guerre, the US Distinguished Service Cross, the Greek War Cross, and the Dutch Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau. On June 8, 1950 he was given to the rank of field marshal, the only Australian to ever receive that honor to date. He died the following year form a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 67. A statue in his honor resides in Kings Domain in Melbourne. Blamey Barracks at the Australian Army Recruit Center at Kapooka is also named in his honor.
Australian Army General. A highly decorated veteran of World Wars I and II, he rose in rank to become the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces and Commander of Allied Land Forces in the South West Pacific Theater under General Douglas MacArthur. The 7th of ten children, his father was a farmer who emigrated from Cornwall, England. After working as a schoolteacher, he enlisted in the Australian Army in 1906 and by 1911 he was promoted to the rank of major. When World War I broke out in the summer of 1914, he was sent to Egypt and assigned to Australia's 1st Division and participated in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey. In 1916 he was transferred to the Western Front in Europe where he saw combat action at the Battle of Pozières, the Battle of Hamel, the Battle of Amiens, and the Battle of St. Quentin Canal, all in France, and was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. After the end of World War I, he returned to Australia and became Deputy Chief to the General Staff in May 1920 and created the Royal Australian Air Force. In September 1925 he transferred to the Australian Militia and became a part-time soldier for the next 14 years, assuming command of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Army Division and Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police. In March 1931 he was promoted to the rank of major general and became commander of the 3rd Army Division. In October 1939, following the outbreak of World War II, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and became commander of the 6th Division of the newly formed 2nd Australian Imperial Force. The following February he was appointed commander of the newly formed 1st Corps and was sent to the Middle East and saw combat at Battle of Greece (April 1941), the Battle of Crete (May 1941), and the Syria–Lebanon campaign (June to July 1941). In early 1942 he was transferred to the South West Pacific Theater where he served as Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces and Commander of Allied Land Forces, South West Pacific Area and served in New Guinea during the Kokoda Track campaign (July to November 1942), the Battle of Milne Bay (August to September 1942), the Salamaua–Lae campaign (April 1942 to September 1943), the Finisterre Range campaign (September 1943 to April 1944), the Bougainville campaign November 1944), the New Britain campaign (December 1943 to August 1945), and also the Borneo campaign (May to August 1945). On September 2, 1945 he signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender in Tokyo Bay, Japan. In January 1946 he retired from the Australian Army with 40 years of military service and returned to Melbourne, Australia to devote his time to his business affairs. Among his military and civilian awards and decorations include the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, the Knight Bachelor Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, the Distinguished Service Order, the Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John, the British Efficiency Decoration, the French Croix de guerre, the US Distinguished Service Cross, the Greek War Cross, and the Dutch Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau. On June 8, 1950 he was given to the rank of field marshal, the only Australian to ever receive that honor to date. He died the following year form a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 67. A statue in his honor resides in Kings Domain in Melbourne. Blamey Barracks at the Australian Army Recruit Center at Kapooka is also named in his honor.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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