| Popis: |
As the only Australian of the trio, none had greater responsibility than the Chief of the General Staff (CGS), Vernon Sturdee. The foremost military position in Australia, the mantle of Sir Brudenell White, now fell on the shoulders of the 50-year-old Vernon Sturdee, who a year earlier had been a colonel and Director of Staff Duties at Army Headquarters. From 8 December 1941 onwards for about four months the Chiefs of Staff, Sturdee, Admiral Royle and Air Chief Marshal Burnett, were constantly directed to prepare appreciations for a worried government. After Blamey returned, Sturdee continued serving loyally as CGS until July 1942 when he was appointed head of the Australian military mission in Washington. On the morning of 15 February Sturdee telephoned the Prime Minister and urged him to order the convoys to be diverted to Australia. In late December 1941 the government directed Sturdee to send reinforcements to Malaya. |
