 Menzies became prime minister again in December 1949 , and he resolved that Blamey should be promoted to the rank of field marshal , something that had been mooted in 1945 . The recommendation went via the Governor @-@ General , William McKell , to the War Office in London , which replied that a dominion officer could not be promoted to the rank . Menzies pointed out that Jan Smuts already had . The War Office then claimed that Blamey could not be promoted to field marshal because he was a retired officer , which was not true . Menzies then restored Blamey to active duty . Blamey was duly promoted to field marshal in the King 's Birthday Honours of 8 June 1950 . 
