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Part TwoExplanations of Morale and Combat FatigueProblemsOn statistical evidence alone the 61st Battalion was not an obvious choiceas the battalion most likely to have morale problems. As the tables belowdemonstrate, it had substantially fewer casualties than either of the othertwo units, a lower incidence of sickness than the 9th Battalion and its strengthstate between November and May had not seen a dramatic reduction in numbers.According to calculations in Field’s papers, up until 10 April the 61st had alsospent a fraction less time in the presence of the enemy than either of its sisterbattalions, when their time in the central sector was taken into account.170 Giventhe ferocity of the 25th Battalion’s battles in late March and early April it is highlylikely that the 61st killed fewer Japanese than this unit and probably marginallyfewer than the 9th. What then explains the dramatic decline in its morale andbattle effectiveness?There can be little doubt that Field placed the blame firmly on Dexter’s personalleadership. As he wrote in his report:It is definitely established in my mind that the deterioration in morale of this Battalionbegan from the top and originated in the mind of the CO, who from war-wearinessdoes not now possess the robust mentality and stamina needed to deal with a problemof this nature.171170 ‘Period Spent in Ops Commitments’, undated, 3DRL6937, Item 35.171 Draft report, ‘VX5172 Lt Col W.R. Dexter 61 Aust Inf Bn’, 9 April 1945, p. 2, AWM3DRL6937, Item 32, sub folder ‘W.R. Dexter’.A tale of three battalions — 39