Kokoda Trail History
The Kokoda Commanders
August 1942

The 39th Battalion (from the 30th Brigade) began deploying over the Owen Stanley Range in June. It met the brunt of the Japanese landing on 22 July and was driven out of Kokoda on 9 August. Porter sought permission from the Commander New Guinea Force, Major General Basil Morris, to move into the mountains to command the force there, known as Maroubra Force, but it was not until 12 August that he left Port Moresby with the 53rd Battalion and his headquarters staff. Arriving at Isurava on 18 August, he began deploying his force - numbering about 600 personnel - to meet an expected Japanese attack. He reported that the supply situation was unsatisfactory.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Sydney Rowell had arrived in Port Moresby to succeed Morris as Commander New Guinea Force. Soon after, Major General Arthur (Tubby) Allen, commander of the experienced 7th Australian Division, had arrived with the first elements of his division, namely the 21st Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Arnold Potts. Rowell gave Allen responsibility for operations in the Owen Stanleys, and Allen promptly ordered Potts and his brigade to recapture Kokoda. Once he arrived in the mountains Potts would take command of Maroubra Force, which would then consist of the 39th and 53rd Battalions and his own brigade. Porter would return to Port Moresby, investigating logistic arrangements on the way.

Potts, a Western Australian farmer, was just short of his 46th birthday. Wounded in the First World War, he had been a major in the Syrian campaign and had assumed command of the 21st Brigade in April 1942. He was a brave and inspiring soldier, who understood infantry fighting but had little experience of higher level operations. He took command of Maroubra Force at Isurava on 24 August, but only one battalion of his brigade had arrived before the Japanese began their major offensive on 26 August. In an intense battle the brigade delayed the enemy for four days and inflicted heavy casualties. Potts skilfully stepped his battalions back, fighting successive rearguard actions as they crossed the crest of the ranges. He had to keep manoeuvring his battalions (the two militia battalions had been withdrawn) to ensure that he always prevented the Japanese from bypassing his force, in which case they could have advanced unhindered towards Port Moresby.

On 8 September six Japanese battalions attacked the remnants of his brigade south of Efogi. At one stage the attackers were five metres from brigade headquarters, with everyone from Potts to the headquarters cooks involved in the action. He signalled Lieutenant Colonel Albert Caro, commanding officer of the 2/16th Battalion: "Tell Albert C. from Arnold P. If Arnold's bunch is wiped, to take control and go to Number 12 [Menari]." Afar repelling eight assaults Potts ordered another withdrawal.

Angry with what he thought was Pott's mishandling of his brigade, Rowell ordered Allen to relieve Potts. Allen raised no objection as he felt that judging from the signals, Potts "was either tired or was losing a grip of the situation". Allen did, however, keep an open mind over whether Potts had shown lack of judgement or had been out-fought, and he persuaded Rowell to hear Potts's story. Rowell reinstated Potts to the 21st Brigade when it arrived back in the Port Moresby area. Potts had not failed as a commander and had never lost heart; he retained the confidence of his men throughout.

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