 On 13 October 1939 , a month after the outbreak of the Second World War , Blamey was promoted to lieutenant general , and appointed to command the 6th Division , the first formation of the new Second Australian Imperial Force , and received the AIF service number VX1 . Menzies limited his choice of commanders by insisting that they be selected from the Militia rather than the Permanent Military Forces ( PMF ) , the Army 's full @-@ time , regular component . For brigade commanders he chose Brigadiers Arthur Allen , Leslie Morshead and Stanley Savige . He selected Brigadier Edmund Herring to command the 6th Division artillery , Colonel Samuel Burston for its medical services , and Lieutenant Colonels Clive Steele and Jack Stevens for its engineers and signals . All except Allen had previously served with him during his time commanding the 3rd Division in Melbourne . For his two most senior staff officers , he chose two PMF officers , Colonel Sydney Rowell as GSO1 and Lieutenant Colonel George Alan Vasey as AA & QMG . 
