Complex sentence: The clearing of the recreation ground and sports oval and construction of the school's swimming pool was completed under his leadership in the first year, but the college was only open for two years before the grounds were commandeered by the Australian Army in 1942.
Split into simpler sentences: The clearing of the recreation ground and sports oval and construction of the school's swimming pool was completed under his leadership in the first year. However, the college was only open for two years before the grounds were commandeered by the Australian Army in 1942.