<Ul> <Li> Robert Menzies was the Prime Minister of Australia from 26 April 1939 until 29 August 1941 . He served a second term as Prime Minister between 1949 and 1966 . </Li> <Li> Arthur Fadden replaced Menzies as Prime Minister but was forced from office when his government collapsed on 7 October 1941 . He had previously served as acting Prime Minister for long periods while Menzies was out of the country . </Li> <Li> John Curtin was Prime Minister from 7 October 1941 until his death on 5 July 1945 . In January 1942 , facing Japanese attacks , he wrote in a historic New Year message that Australia looked to the US for its security , rather than the UK . Curtin also formed a close working relationship with General MacArthur and directed the Australian military to follow MacArthur 's orders as if they were his own . Curtin had several disagreements over defense policy with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill . </Li> <Li> Frank Forde was appointed Prime Minister after Curtin 's death , but lost the position on 12 July to a leadership challenge . He had served as acting Prime Minister during periods when Curtin was out of the country or unwell during 1944 and 1945 . </Li> <Li> Ben Chifley replaced Forde and served as Prime Minister until 1949 . </Li> <Li> Sir Thomas Blamey ( Field Marshal ) was the Commander - in - Chief of the Australian Military Forces and Commander of Allied Land Forces in the South West Pacific Area during the war . Commander of Allied land forces in the South West Pacific , 1942 -- 45 . He became Australia 's first and only Field Marshal after the war . In 1945 he signed the Japanese surrender document on behalf of Australia . </Li> <Li> Ernest Squires ( Lieutenant General ) was the 14th Chief of the General Staff from 1939 -- 1940 . </Li> <Li> John Northcott ( Lieutenant General ) was the 15th & 18th Chief of the General Staff from 1940 -- 1940 & 1942 -- 1945 . </Li> <Li> Sir Brudenell White ( General ) was the 9th & 16th Chief of the General Staff from 1920 -- 1923 & 1940 -- 1940 ( Killed during the 1940 Canberra air disaster ) . </Li> <Li> Vernon Sturdee ( Lieutenant General ) was the 17th Chief of the General Staff from 1940 -- 1942 . </Li> <Li> Sir Ragnar Colvin ( Admiral ) was the 8th First Naval Member , Australian Commonwealth Naval Board from 1937 -- 1941 . </Li> <Li> Sir Guy Royle ( Admiral ) was the 9th First Naval Member , Australian Commonwealth Naval Board from 1941 -- 1945 . </Li> <Li> Sir Louis Hamilton ( Admiral ) was the 10th First Naval Member , Australian Commonwealth Naval Board from 1941 -- 1945 . </Li> </Ul>
<Ul> <Li> Robert Menzies was the Prime Minister of Australia from 26 April 1939 until 29 August 1941 . He served a second term as Prime Minister between 1949 and 1966 . </Li> <Li> Arthur Fadden replaced Menzies as Prime Minister but was forced from office when his government collapsed on 7 October 1941 . He had previously served as acting Prime Minister for long periods while Menzies was out of the country . </Li> <Li> John Curtin was Prime Minister from 7 October 1941 until his death on 5 July 1945 . In January 1942 , facing Japanese attacks , he wrote in a historic New Year message that Australia looked to the US for its security , rather than the UK . Curtin also formed a close working relationship with General MacArthur and directed the Australian military to follow MacArthur 's orders as if they were his own . Curtin had several disagreements over defense policy with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill . </Li> <Li> Frank Forde was appointed Prime Minister after Curtin 's death , but lost the position on 12 July to a leadership challenge . He had served as acting Prime Minister during periods when Curtin was out of the country or unwell during 1944 and 1945 . </Li> <Li> Ben Chifley replaced Forde and served as Prime Minister until 1949 . </Li> <Li> Sir Thomas Blamey ( Field Marshal ) was the Commander - in - Chief of the Australian Military Forces and Commander of Allied Land Forces in the South West Pacific Area during the war . Commander of Allied land forces in the South West Pacific , 1942 -- 45 . He became Australia 's first and only Field Marshal after the war . In 1945 he signed the Japanese surrender document on behalf of Australia . </Li> <Li> Ernest Squires ( Lieutenant General ) was the 14th Chief of the General Staff from 1939 -- 1940 . </Li> <Li> John Northcott ( Lieutenant General ) was the 15th & 18th Chief of the General Staff from 1940 -- 1940 & 1942 -- 1945 . </Li> <Li> Sir Brudenell White ( General ) was the 9th & 16th Chief of the General Staff from 1920 -- 1923 & 1940 -- 1940 ( Killed during the 1940 Canberra air disaster ) . </Li> <Li> Vernon Sturdee ( Lieutenant General ) was the 17th Chief of the General Staff from 1940 -- 1942 . </Li> <Li> Sir Ragnar Colvin ( Admiral ) was the 8th First Naval Member , Australian Commonwealth Naval Board from 1937 -- 1941 . </Li> <Li> Sir Guy Royle ( Admiral ) was the 9th First Naval Member , Australian Commonwealth Naval Board from 1941 -- 1945 . </Li> <Li> Sir Louis Hamilton ( Admiral ) was the 10th First Naval Member , Australian Commonwealth Naval Board from 1941 -- 1945 . </Li> </Ul>
five australian prime ministers who governed during world war 2
five australian prime ministers who governed during world war 2
Robert Menzies Arthur Fadden John Curtin Frank Forde Ben Chifley
Robert Menzies Arthur Fadden John Curtin Frank Forde Ben Chifley