Fatigue Management

The troops started out tired and unshaven and unwashed.
They seemed to be abandoning an ideal position for a
stand and running away once more - contrary to everyone's
wish to "have a go" at the enemy. They piled into
overcrowded vehicles amid rifles, Bren guns and gear and
equipment where no position offered comfort yet no move
was possible. The sleep they needed was unattainable.
Diarist, reference troops of 2/48th Bn,
A.I.F. during the withdrawal across
Cyrenaica, April 1941, in B. Maughan's
Tobruk and El Alamein, 1966
There is general recognition that the maintenance of morale is the most
important single factor in war. Military history has shown, and field research
has confirmed, that morale (the enthusiasm and persistence with which a
member or members of a group engages in the group, supports its leadership
and commits to its goals and activities) is a powerful factor in helping to
alleviate fatigue, temporarily at least. There are other examples where lack of
motivation and morale may explain why soldiers and commanders failed to
endure severe fatigue.
Strong and effective leadership, which fosters morale, is another powerful
antidote to fatigue. Skilful leaders know the endurance capabilities of their
team, understand and respect how precious sleep is to the tired soldier,
identify early the symptoms of fatigue and rest their troops before exhaustion.
If necessary, however, they can spur exhausted soldiers to make the extra
effort, particularly in physical tasks. It must be noted, however, that the
impact of leadership on motivation will not last, and if rest is not available,
each leadership intervention will foster briefer and briefer periods of
response. For tasks that are primarily mental in nature, leadership is
unlikely to counter the effects of chronic fatigue.
It was apparent that all commanders and officers present
were nearing exhaustion and on two occasions a senior
officer dropped off to sleep through sheer fatigue. The
conference lacked a definite spirit and I can recall saying
to the C.O. that in my present condition, having only had
four hour's (approx.) sleep since Thursday, 29 January (it
was then 8 p.m. on Monday) it was difficult to think along
offensive lines.
Captain C. F. Newnham
Coy Commander, 2/21 Bn, during the
Japanese attack on Ambon, Jan-Feb
1942, cited in Lionel Wigmore's
The Japanese Thrust, 1957
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