MELBOURNE, VIC. 1943-04-05. LEFT TO RIGHT:- MAJOR-GENERAL J.E.S. STEVENS, CB, DSO, ED, ...

MELBOURNE, VIC. 1943-04-05. LEFT TO RIGHT:- MAJOR-GENERAL J.E.S. STEVENS, CB, DSO, ED, GENERAL-OFFICER-COMMANDING 6TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION; LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR JOHN LAVARACK, KBE, CB, CMG, DSO, GENERAL-OFFICER-COMMANDING FIRST AUSTRALIAN ARMY AND MAJOR-GENERAL E.C.P. PLANT, CB, DSO, OBE, GENERAL-OFFICER-COMMANDING VICTORIA L. OF C. AREA, IN THE LOUNGE OF "ILLOURA", ST KILDA ROAD, THE OFFICERS' MESS AND QUARTERS OF THE STAFF OF SIGNAL- OFFICER- IN- CHIEF, AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES, PRIOR TO A DINNER WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY ALL SENIOR STAFF OFFICERS OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE U.S. FORCES AND THE AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES, ALL SENIOR FORMATION COMMANDERS OF THE U.S. ARMY AND THE A.M.F. UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL SIR THOMAS BLAMEY, GBE, KCB, CMG, DSO, SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE U.S. NAVY AND THE RAAF. THE FUNCTION WAS INITIATED BY MAJOR-GENERAL C.H. SIMPSON, CBE, MC, VD, SIGNAL OFFICER- IN- CHIEF, ALLIED LAND FORCES WHO DESIRED TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SENIOR RANKING OFFICERS OF THE THREE SERVICES OF THE AMERICAN AND AUSTRALIAN FORCES TO MEET ON A SOCIAL BASIS AS THEY HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY MET. GENERAL MACARTHUR AND GENERAL BLAMEY APPROVED AND THE DINNER WAS ORGANISED AND WAS CONSIDERED A GREAT SUCCESS, SOCIALLY, AND AS A MEANS OF CREATING CLOSER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE ALLIED FORCES.