by Graeme Johnson
Arnold William Potts was born on the Isle of Man on 16 September 1898. Along with his parents and siblings the family emigrated to Western Australia, arriving at Albany in early November 1904. William, his teacher father, had been sponsored by the WA Education Department. They initially settled in the beachside suburb of Cottesloe. William Potts taught in various metropolitan schools and later in Kalgoorlie, while Arnold boarded at Guildford Grammar School on the outskirts of Perth adjacent to the Swan River. Even though small in stature, Arnold excelled in sport competing in rowing, football, athletics and shooting. He was also a Colour Sergeant member of the school Cadet Unit, this being a popular pastime in that era.
Potts later joined the CMF (Militia) in Pinjarra after finishing school and working as a farmhand /minder of young orphans from the UK at the nearby Fairbridge Farm School.
With war clouds gathering in Europe, he undertook months of training at the Blackboy Hill Camp near Midland, the main WW1 training establishment. Having been allocated to the WA- manned 16th Battalion, he served in Gallipoli mainly as a Sergeant. Following the withdrawal and movement to Egypt he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and later Lieutenant.
Shipped to the European theatre, Potts served in a Light Trench Mortar Battery and was awarded the MC. Now a Captain, he was wounded twice on the Western Front necessitating evacuation to Wandsworth Hospital in London to recover.
Returning to WA in January 1919, he purchased a partially-developed cropping/grazing property near Kojonup, approximately midway between Perth and Albany. In the mid 1930’s Potts and other like-minded people formed a Militia Unit in the Great Southern Region, such was their sense of duty. Local training was undertaken and also in the Rockingham area south of Fremantle.
With WW11 looming, he rejoined the regular army and, by now a Major, with others raised the fledgling 2/16th Bn. at Northam Army Camp east of Perth. Leaving Fremantle port in late October 1940, and after a brief stopover en route in Bombay, the Unit arrived in Egypt after a month long voyage. Service here and in Libya was followed by operations in Syria and Lebanon. Elevated to Lieutenant Colonel, he was later promoted to Colonel and then Brigadier.
Returning to Australia in March 1942, further training was undertaken with later movement to PNG in higher command. He oversaw the Kokoda and other PNG campaigns including Bougainville, being awarded the DSO and MID. Potts commanded great respect from the men, only to be sidelined by General Thomas Blamey with a posting to the Garrison in Darwin. Having taken discharge at War’s end, he returned to his property and continued farming. For his extensive community service in the region, he was awarded an OBE in 1960. Arnold ran unsuccessfully for Federal Parliament as a Country Party candidate.
Arnold Potts passed away on New Year’s Day 1968 and was cremated at Karrakatta, the main Perth Cemetery. His ashes were scattered in the Rose Garden of Remembrance. His memorial plaque photographed below is located at the Perth War Cemetery, Smyth Road, Nedlands.

Footnote: Travellers in Western Australia may be interested to know that an impressive sculpture of Brigadier Potts is located adjacent to the Kojonup RSL Club rooms on the Albany Highway, Kojonup. Panels near by explain the relevant New Guinea campaigns.

References:
“Warrior of Kokoda” by Bill Edgar ISBN 978-1-86448-908-8
AWM website
“Pigeon Post”, Journal of the 2/16th Bn. (AIF) Association