Field Marshal Sir Thomas A. 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 May 4, 1942 attended the funeral of U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) Brigadier General Harold H. George in South Yarra.

On October 3, 1942 a group of leaders including Blamey, General Douglas MacArthur, General Herring and General George C. 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 December 19, 1943 Lodestar A67-4 tail VH-RAD with passenger Blamey aboard lands at Dumpu Airfield, met by Major General G. A. Vasey, commander 7th Australian Division.

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.

Postwar
On June 8, 1950, promoted to the rank of Field Marshall. Blamey was the only Australian to achieve this rank in the Army.

Memorials
On May 27, 1951 Blamey died at age 67 in Heidelberg, Victoria. He is buried at Fawkner Memorial Park in Fawkner, Victoria.

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.

References
FindAGrave - Thomas Albert Blamey (photos)

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