MWiF Leaders - Blamey

[Greyshaft]

Aged 53 in 1939. Field Marshall Thomas Albert Blamey was born in Wagga Wagga New South Wales and trained as a schoolteacher. He served in the schools cadet unit until he passed the examination as a Cadet Officer and began full time military service. After transferring to the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) Blamey passed the entrance exam for the Imperial Staff College and attended the course in India before taking up duties with the Wessex division in England in 1914. He went into combat for the first time with the landings at Anzac Cove on 25th April 1915 and later served in France. At the close of WWI Blamey served as Australia's Director of Military Operations where he was heavily involved in the creation of the RAAF. After being passed over for the role Chief of the General Staff (CGS) in 1925 Blamey resigned from the Army and became Chief Commissioner of Police in Victoria. When war came in 1939 Blamey was recalled and appointed to command the Second AIF that was then deployed to Egypt. He insisted to the British Theatre Commander, General Wavell, that the Australians should remain as a cohesive fighting force and not be broken up into smaller pieces to reinforce existing British units. This policy allowed the Australian troops to develop its own espirit de corp through their battles such as the Seige of Tobruk and the actions in Greece. Political issues were a major consideration during 1940/41 as Blamey confronted the British Theatre Commanders (Wilson then Auchinleck) to prevent Australian forces being accorded less importance than British troops eg the Australian 9th Division left to hold Tobruk with insufficient support. After Japan's declaration of war in December 1941 Blamey was appointed as C-in-C of the Australian Military Forces and then C-in-C Allied Land Forces under the C-in-C of the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) theatre, General Douglas MacArthur. Blamey personally controlled the operations in New Guinea during this period including the combat along the Kokoda trail and the clearing of Japanese positions on the north coast of that island. He pressed for Australians to participate in the planned invasion of Japan and clashed with General MacArthur who preferred Australians to be deployed in garrison duties to ensure unchallenged American political and operational control over the frontline troops. In September 1945 General Blamey stood on the deck of the USS Missouri to witness the surrender of Japan and then two months later was dismissed from service by the Australian government. He was promoted to Field Marshall in June 1950 and died in May 1951. Blamey’s best attributes were his professional approach to the military challenges he faced and his ability to plan in detail. Against that must be balanced accusations that he was quick to deride his own troops and was more concerned with the questions of international relations rather than the welfare of the troops he commanded.

[Ian R]

I have always considered that the politicians' obvious dislike of Blamey was a matter of great credit to him personally. Although Menzies must have liked him a bit to promote him in 1950.

I saw a possibly mischevious essay somewhere that suggested that the dislike stemmed from his efforts, while Victorian Police Commissioner, to stamp out the corruption which helped line politicians' pockets with paper bags full of money. The suggestion was his appointments, first in Egypt and later in SWpac, were made because they knew from past experience he could ride out the pressure and would stand up to the major alliance partners. As soon as the war was over they knifed him in the back.

Also don't forget that MacArthur may not have liked him either - he created "Alamo Force" (later 6th Army) to sidestep the issue of Blamey having control of any US troops.

[Neilster]

MacArthur may not have liked him either...

I was under the impression that he hated Australians in general. Mind you, he was a complete nut.

Cheers, Neilster