was <strong>the</strong> question of leave. As early as 15 December Field noted that a complaint‘had been transmitted via II Corps that “61 Bn has had no leave for 3 years most ofwhich period has been spent in New Guinea”’.206 While this was not true, all unitsof <strong>the</strong> 7th Brigade had commenced service in Bougainville with many men havingvery large leave credits. In contrast, <strong>the</strong> 15th and 29th Brigades had leave beforedeparting from Australia.207 Statistics in Field’s papers showed that 633 personnelwithin <strong>the</strong> 61st Battalion had not had leave for 12 to 18 months, considerablyhigher than ei<strong>the</strong>r of <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r two battalions.208 On 18 February he was compelledto write a confidential memo to his COs ‘on <strong>the</strong> subject of leave rumours’.209 Ewen’sdiary contains a substantial number of references to that very subject. On 19 Marchhe noted ‘it is quite possible that we may be back in Aussie for <strong>the</strong> Anzac March …next month’.210 The issue of arranging leave after <strong>the</strong> brigade’s relief occupied Fieldthroughout late April.211 The final arrangements dictated by higher authorities,which limited <strong>the</strong> amount of leave that could be taken and only allowed drafts todepart when <strong>the</strong> preceding one had been concentrated for return, were describedby Field as ‘an injustice to all concerned and will be widely resented’.212 Like juniorleadership, this was a brigade-wide problem but one that was particularly sensitivein <strong>the</strong> 61st Battalion. Long noted, ‘There are men in this Bn (61) who’ve had only24 days leave since Milne Bay’.213 On <strong>the</strong> departure of men from <strong>the</strong> battalion onleave, Ewen noted:206 Field’s diary, 15 December 1944, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 6.207 ‘3 Aust Div Report on Operations November 1944–August 1945’, p. 158, AWM3DRL2529, Item 75.208 ‘Leave – 7 Aust Inf Bde Gp’, undated, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 35. It is probable that thiswas part of a ‘comprehensive memorandum on leave’ Field mentioned in his diary inApril. Field’s diary, 19 April 1945, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 7.209 Field’s diary, 18 February 1945, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 7.210 Ewen’s diary 1, 19 March 1945, AWM PR89/190. See also entries 23 February and 25March.211 Field’s diary, 17, 19, 20 and 27 April 1945, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 7.212 Field’s diary, 28 April 1945, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 7.213 Long’s notes, 6 February 1945, AWM 67, Item 2/68.48 — A tale of three battalions
That is 60 men <strong>the</strong>y will never see again unless of course we all go back within <strong>the</strong> nextcouple of months. Old Doc Carrington went from <strong>the</strong> sec[tion]. I think he has 50 odddays leave due and all <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs have <strong>the</strong> same so <strong>the</strong>y will not come back till <strong>the</strong>y have<strong>the</strong>ir leave, even if it means going AWL [absent without leave].214This issue was to play a part in <strong>the</strong> last major incident in <strong>the</strong> battalion’s history.When Field was finally advised, in <strong>the</strong> second week of May, that Dexter woulddefinitely not be returning, he requested Lieutenant Colonel Terence Farrell as hisreplacement.215 Farrell arrived from Australia on 30 May, and in July Field noted‘I’m satisfied that he will bring 61 Bn up to <strong>the</strong> old standards again’.216 However,when <strong>the</strong> battalion was again ordered to assume responsibility for rear-areasecurity in <strong>the</strong> south on 7 August, more than seventy members of <strong>the</strong> battalionrefused to move. Field recorded that ‘They are nursing a grievance about leave andpossibly think that <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> war is imminent’.217 Farrell was sent back from<strong>the</strong> south to sort <strong>the</strong> problem out. Brigadier Field noted that Farrell was ‘unableto effect any change in <strong>the</strong> attitude of <strong>the</strong> 70 men who had refused duty. Chargeswere accordingly being drawn up. This is a poor finish and a stain on <strong>the</strong> nameof <strong>the</strong> 61 Bn’.218 It also suggested that not all of <strong>the</strong> problems within <strong>the</strong> battalionwere of Dexter’s making.214 Ewen’s diary 2, 28 April 1945, AWM PR89/190. There were similar sentiments in <strong>the</strong>9th Battalion. Mat<strong>the</strong>ws diary 16, 2 and 4 May 1945, AWM PR89/079, Item 5.215 Field’s diary, 11 May 1945, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 7.216 Field’s diary, 11 July 1945, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 7.217 Field’s diary, 9 August 1945, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 7. This incident is also covered inEwen’s diary and <strong>the</strong> II Corps report on operations in <strong>the</strong> Solomons. The numbers varybetween 70–76 personnel, depending on <strong>the</strong> source. Ewen was one of <strong>the</strong> dissentersand received eighteen months field punishment, although he only served threemonths. His explanation was, ‘It’s a long story of Bad <strong>Army</strong> Adm. All <strong>the</strong> officers hadleave and half <strong>the</strong> Bn were on leave when we were ordered back up’. The corps reportnoted ‘This instance of ill-discipline was isolated and directly attributable to failureof troops to get leave which <strong>the</strong>y had been expecting’. Ewen’s diary 2, 7 January 1946,AWM PR89/190; ‘Report on Operational and Administrative Activities 2 Aust Corpsin <strong>the</strong> North Solomons Area October 1944–August 1945’, p. 79, AWM 3DRL6643,Item 3/83.218 Field’s diary, 10 August 1945, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 7.A tale of three battalions — 49