 In November 1938 , Blamey was appointed chairman of the Commonwealth Government 's Manpower Committee and Controller General of Recruiting . As such , he laid the foundation for the expansion of the Army in the event of war with Germany or Japan , which he now regarded as inevitable . In 1938 and 1939 , he headed a successful recruiting campaign which doubled the size of the part @-@ time volunteer Militia from 35 @,@ 000 in September 1938 to 70 @,@ 000 in March 1939 . On 5 April 1939 he married Olga Ora Farnsworth , a 35 @-@ year @-@ old fashion artist , at St John 's Anglican Church , Toorak . 
