General Thomas Blamey
Australian Army Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces

Background
Thomas Albert Blamey was born on January 24, 1884 in Waga Waga, New South Wales (NSW) in Australia.

On October 3, 1942 Blamey, General Douglas MacArthur, General Herring and General Kenney plus Minister for the Army Mr. F. M. Forde visit the Australian Army at Owers' Corner at the start of the Kokoda Trail.

On July 26, 1944 the first production Matilda Frog flamethrower tank was demonstrated to Blamey at Monegeetta Proving Grounds northwest of Melbourne.

On September 9, 1945 on Morotai Island the Japanese surrendered all remaining Japanese forces in the eastern half of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). More than 10,000 Australian and Allied troops observe the official surrender ceremony on the 1st Australian Corps sports ground. Representing the Allies, Commander-in-Chief of the Australian  Military Forces, General Thomas Blamey accepted the surrender of Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Second Army Commander, General Lt. General Teshima and Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Captain Toyama who together surrender approximately 126,000 Army and Navy personnel under their command.

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