A controversial decision of the Menzies government was that senior commands in Blamey 's 6th Division would be restricted to Militia officers . This upset many PMF officers . However , when the 7th Division was formed in May 1940 , a regular officer , Lieutenant General John Lavarack was appointed to command it . Blamey appointed two regulars , Major Generals Vernon Sturdee and Henry Wynter to command the 8th and 9th Divisions , but Wynter became ill and Sturdee was appointed Chief of the General Staff following the death of General Sir Brudenell White in the 1940 Canberra air disaster . The commands then went to two CMF soldiers , Major Generals Gordon Bennett and Leslie Morshead
1940 Canberra air disaster
1940 Canberra air disaster
Second Australian Imperial Force