62 Facts About Arnold Potts

Arnold Potts had a distinguished career his place in history has largely been unacknowledged due to his dismissal by General Sir Thomas Blamey, at the very point when Potts had fought the Japanese to exhaustion.

Arnold Potts's fighting withdrawal over the Kokoda Trail has been called "one of the most critical triumphs in Australian military history and one that an apathetic nation has still to honour".

Arnold Potts retired from the military following the end of the war and unsuccessfully pursued a career in politics.

Arnold Potts was born on 16 September 1896 at Peel on the Isle of Man to William, a schoolmaster, and Mary Potts.

In 1904, at the age of eight, Arnold Potts' family emigrated to Western Australia and he attended Cottesloe State School before progressing on to Guilford Grammar School.

In 1913, Arnold Potts sat and passed the University of Adelaide's entrance exam for English, geometry and trigonometry.

Arnold Potts soon earned the respect of his men, most of whom were much older than he.

Arnold Potts stayed with the battalion after it was evacuated from the peninsula in December 1915.

Arnold Potts had led his battery in unstinting support of the rest of the battalion during its advance, even though the battery itself had been almost continually under attack in the most horrendous of conditions.

Arnold Potts handled his Trench Mortar Battery with great courage and determination.

Later in the war, having been promoted to captain, Arnold Potts was able to transfer back to the 16th Battalion and on 6 July 1918, near Hamel, he received a serious gunshot wound in the chest, which he barely survived.

Arnold Potts continued to serve part-time in the Militia in 1922 he was placed on the Reserve of Officers list and effectively retired due to defence cutbacks at the time.

In 1938, as tensions in Europe grew, Arnold Potts became involved with the Militia again and was instrumental in the re-formation of the 25th Light Horse Regiment.

Arnold Potts played a key role in staffing the battalion and getting it ready for action in Syria in 1941, where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for inspiring leadership at the Battle of the Litani River on 9 and 10 June.

In 1942 Arnold Potts returned to Australia and in April he was promoted to temporary brigadier and given command of the 21st Brigade, stationed in south-east Queensland.

Arnold Potts devised and implemented the first specific jungle training for Australian troops.

Arnold Potts took his troops up into the Blackall Range, where the thick scrub and steep grades gave these experienced desert fighters an idea of what lay ahead for them.

Arnold Potts's orders were clear yet daunting: recapture Kokoda so it could be used as a base to push the Japanese back to Gona.

Arnold Potts was promised 40,000 rations would await him at Myola, to be dropped in by Dakota transport planes.

The night before beginning the trek, Arnold Potts had learned that a further 1,800 Japanese combat troops had landed at Gona.

Arnold Potts seems to have harboured doubts about the air drops, as he had each soldier carry five days' rations to Myola.

Arnold Potts made his way forward to Alola and assumed command of Maroubra Force from Brigadier Selwyn Porter on 23 August 1942.

Arnold Potts aimed at holding each position for maximum time and at maximum cost to the enemy, before withdrawing.

Arnold Potts was aware that with each mile back towards Port Moresby the Japanese supply and communication line became longer and more fragile.

However the damage inflicted on the enemy was crucial in slowing their pursuit, as Arnold Potts made his way to Menari.

Arnold Potts left orders for the battalions to make their own way and rejoin him there.

Years later Arnold Potts recalled "We had to sit in the jungle listening to the screams of comrades tortured by the Japanese in an attempt to provoke an attack".

Arnold Potts sent a message to Major General George Alan Vasey, Deputy Chief of General Staff, informing him of Potts' removal.

Arnold Potts continued "I trust you appreciate the gravity of immediate situation, and will produce additional troops asked for particularly infantry, with minimum delay".

Arnold Potts spoke his mind to his commanding officer, and was dismissed.

Arnold Potts passed on a personal message from Curtin to the brigade, for "saving Port Moresby and thus Australia".

Arnold Potts requested a private audience with Potts, and Brigade HQ was vacated.

Arnold Potts relieved Potts of his command, citing Potts' failure to hold back the Japanese, despite commanding "superior forces".

Further, Arnold Potts had failed to re-take Kokoda despite explicit orders to do so.

Arnold Potts furiously rejected any blame being attached to his battalion commanders.

Blamey was not interested in debating the finer points, nor in allowing Arnold Potts to remain in contact with those same battalion commanders.

Peter Brune alleges that Blamey's removal of Arnold Potts was simple self-preservation.

Arnold Potts questioned whether they were worthy of their men, and told them they must improve.

Arnold Potts was initially dismissive about Blamey's address, when informed about it by Major Albert Caro.

Arnold Potts had already been removed, and appears to have been already marked for minor roles only in the rest of the war.

Arnold Potts was aware as the war proceeded that men he had trained, cajoled, blasted, encouraged and fought alongside were damned for their association with him.

Arnold Potts replaced Dougherty as commander of the 23rd Brigade in Darwin.

Arnold Potts's methods did not always meet with approval from his superiors.

Arnold Potts dealt with his difficulties by devoting himself to training his brigade.

Arnold Potts kept the pressure on his men, and it was not always welcome.

Allen had moved on and Arnold Potts' GOC was now Major General Stanley Savige.

Arnold Potts had long-term fears for the future, if the pressure on Japan was eased.

Arnold Potts was aware that among his troops were men who had volunteered for overseas service four years previously.

Arnold Potts feared that a passive garrison role in the tropics would sap the fitness and discipline he had painstakingly instilled.

Arnold Potts did his homework, and proposed to Savige a four-point plan of action for the Brigade:.

Further, Arnold Potts always found it difficult to envisage or accommodate himself to the overall plan of his commander.

Arnold Potts went home on leave to Western Australia for nearly two months, rejoining the brigade at the end of January 1945.

Arnold Potts immediately sent out patrols to sniff out Japanese.

Arnold Potts had already lost one battalion commander in Bougainville, not in combat but in a plane crash while on a reconnaissance flight.

Savige rejected this as completely contrary to their standing orders, and concluded from questioning him that Arnold Potts had actually not read them.

Arnold Potts flew to Torokina for a briefing on the surrender.

Arnold Potts returned to 23rd Brigade at Soraken, where he learned he would be taking charge of all of Bougainville and neighbouring islands.

Arnold Potts warned them, "This is one man on our side we haven't been able to convince the war is over".

Arnold Potts handed over command of the 23rd Brigade to Brigadier Noel Simpson on 4 December 1945.

Lemmon was well ahead on the first count, but Arnold Potts' preferences flowed overwhelmingly to Freeth on the third count, allowing Freeth to win from third place.

In 1960 Arnold Potts was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the New Years Honours List.

Arnold Potts died on 1 January 1968 at Kojonup, aged 71.