 Henry Somer Gullett and Richard Casey , who had served with Blamey at Gallipoli and in France , put Blamey 's name forward to Prime Minister Joseph Lyons as a possible commander in chief in the event of a major war . " We 've got some brilliant staff officers , " Casey told Lyons , " but Blamey is a commander . That 's the difference . " Lyons initially had concerns about Blamey 's morals , but Casey and Lyons summoned Blamey to a meeting in Canberra , after which Lyons designated him for the job . Lyons died on 7 April 1939 , and was replaced as prime minister by Robert Menzies , another prominent supporter of Blamey 's . Two other officers , Major Generals Gordon Bennett and John Lavarack , were considered , and also had strong and well @-@ connected supporters , but unlike Blamey they were public critics of the government 's defence policies . 
