Complex sentence: By September 1970 it was reported that Freeland was to step down at his own request, due to its extremely stressful nature; he was succeeded by Vernon Erskine-Crum on 4 February 1971.
Split into simpler sentences: By September 1970 it was reported that Freeland was to step down at his own request, due to its extremely stressful nature. He was succeeded by Vernon Erskine-Crum on 4 February 1971.