Editing Arnold Potts (section)

===In Darwin with 23rd Brigade===
Potts replaced Dougherty as commander of the [[23rd Brigade (Australia)|23rd Brigade]] in Darwin. It had originally been an AIF brigade, composed of volunteers who were able to serve abroad. As the Japanese advanced through 1941 and 1942, its original battalions had been sent to [[Battle of Ambon|Ambon]], [[Battle of Rabaul (1942)|Rabaul]] and [[Battle of Timor|Timor]].<ref>McCarthy (1959), p. 68</ref> They were replaced with battalions from the [[Australian Army Reserve|Militia]], men who had been conscripted, and could only serve on Australian soil unless they volunteered for the AIF. Friction was inevitable, and the new officers were not all talented man-managers.<ref name=Edgar231>Edgar (1999), p. 231</ref>

With his new brigade, Potts had a new set of battalion commanders, who he proceeded to push to meet his high standards. His methods did not always meet with approval from his superiors.<ref name=Edgar235>Edgar (1999), p. 235</ref> Meanwhile, he was distressed to hear news of his former charges in 21st Brigade. Under Dougherty at Gona they had been thrown against an entrenched Japanese force, which had been massively underestimated in strength. Many good men who had fought alongside Potts in the Middle East and Kokoda died at Gona. He wrote to Dawn "...it's a hundred times worse taking that sort of punch [hearing of the casualties] while I am sitting safe".<ref name=Edgar229>Edgar (1999), p. 229</ref>

Amid the carnage, Lieutenant Colonel Albert Caro, Major Ben Hearman and Lieutenant Colonel Cooper all protested to Dougherty that his tactics were at fault. They all were punished with transfers to backwaters.<ref name=Edgar225>Edgar (1999), p. 225</ref> Cooper (shot in the hip at Gona) has recalled; "...they used to say there were two types of officers: those who were always going to reach the top, and then the others that are always at fault. But then there is the other type like Arnold Potts, who just get on with the job and do it superbly. They are efficient and successful and save men's lives while they go about it. But Arnold Potts wasn't at Gona.<ref name=Edgar226>Edgar (1999), p. 226</ref>

Potts dealt with his difficulties by devoting himself to training his brigade. It was said that by the time they were committed to action, his [[7th Battalion (Australia)|7th]] and [[8th Battalion (Australia)|8th Battalions]] were better trained than any AIF battalion before them.<ref name=Edgar241>Edgar (1999), p. 241</ref> In April 1943 Blamey inspected and was very impressed with the quality of the brigade. By this stage the Northern Territory Force GOC was "Tubby" Allen, also marking time in a relative backwater. Allen steered Potts away from controversy during Blamey's visit.

By March 1944, 23rd Brigade was still training, now in Queensland. Potts kept the pressure on his men, and it was not always welcome. Many of them had not been under fire, and could not relate the punishing fitness regime and battalion manoeuvres to actual combat, as he could.<ref name=Edgar255>Edgar (1999), p. 255</ref> Allen had moved on and Potts' GOC was now Major General [[Stanley Savige]]. Savige hauled him over the coals for being too tough on his battalion commanders.<ref name=Edgar255/> Potts had long-term fears for the future, if the pressure on Japan was eased. He confided to Dawn; "I'm scared stiff we'll all go soft because of further casualties and not hammer the Jap flat. We lose them in this war and the next will be the kids".<ref name="Edgar263">Edgar (1999), p. 261</ref>

In April at last the brigade was posted overseas, initially to Lae in New Guinea Territory, then to the Wau area. The brigade, now part of II Corps, continued training. Potts was much happier with his battalion commanding officers, but was able to write to Dawn; "I put over a pretty brutal talk to COs ... on matters of jealousies, viewpoints and lack of teamwork. Trod on corns all round and am not popular but that will pass."<ref name=Edgar263>Edgar (1999), p. 261</ref>