<Ul> <Li> King George VI was the reigning monarch of the British Commonwealth during the war, and thus acted as Commander - in - Chief of a number of states within that organization, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia . The King was, further, a symbol of national and Commonwealth unity during the war, he and his family visiting bomb sites, munitions factories, and with Commonwealth soldiers . Several members of the Royal Family, including the Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II), served in the forces . </Li> </Ul> <Li> King George VI was the reigning monarch of the British Commonwealth during the war, and thus acted as Commander - in - Chief of a number of states within that organization, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia . The King was, further, a symbol of national and Commonwealth unity during the war, he and his family visiting bomb sites, munitions factories, and with Commonwealth soldiers . Several members of the Royal Family, including the Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II), served in the forces . </Li> <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> <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>

Five australian prime ministers who governed during world war 2