 MacArthur abolished SWPA on 2 September 1945 , and on 15 September Blamey offered to resign . The war was over , and the post of Commander in Chief was now a purely administrative one . His offer was not accepted , but on 14 November , the government abruptly announced that it had accepted his resignation , effective 30 November . A farewell party was held in Melbourne , which was attended by 66 brigadiers and generals . Blamey was given time to write up his despatches , and was formally retired on 31 January 1946 . Forde asked Blamey if he wanted anything in way of recognition for his services , and Blamey asked for knighthoods for his generals , but Forde could not arrange this . In the end , Forde decided to give Blamey the Buick staff car he had used during the war , which had clocked up 50 @,@ 000 miles ( 80 @,@ 000 km ) in the Middle East and the South West Pacific . 
