page_title: Arnold Potts
section_title: Bougainville Campaign
hierarchical_section_title: Arnold Potts / Second World War / Bougainville Campaign
caption_attribution_description: Simple outline map of Bougainville showing its position relative to New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, and the rest of the Solomon Islands. Choiseul and Green Islands are indicated, also Bismarck Sea, Coral Sea and Solomon Sea
context_page_description: Brigadier Arnold William Potts, DSO, OBE, MC was an Australian grazier and army officer who served in the First World War and led the 21st Brigade of the Second Australian Imperial Force during its defence of the Kokoda Trail during the Second World War. He had a distinguished career, however, 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. His 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". Many contemporaries as well as Potts' official biographer regard this sacking as one of the most disgraceful actions of Blamey's military career. Following his dismissal, Potts went on to command the 23rd Brigade during the Bougainville campaign where he earned a reputation for setting high standards. He retired from the military following the end of the war and unsuccessfully pursued a career in politics. He died in 1968, aged 71.
context_section_description: Finally II Corps was transferred to the Solomon Islands. The 23rd Brigade set up HQ in the Green Islands, north of Bougainville on 27 September 1944.
caption: Bougainville's location relative to New Guinea
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