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On 9 April he drafted a report to the divisional commander, writing that:Due apparently to the nervous strain which the officer has experienced and whichmay have produced a neuritis, it is evident that he has been unable to perform hisduties as a Commanding Officer to the extent necessary to support morale and fightingeffectiveness in operations for a prolonged period.The brigadier’s final recommendation was that ‘I cannot repose any furtherconfidence in this officer, but in view of his long and distinguished war serviceand experience, recommend that he be transferred to a training appointment’.153Ultimately Savige, who knew Dexter from this service in the 2/6th Battalion,intervened and arranged to send Dexter out on extended leave, from which hedid not return.154Field moved quickly in an attempt to reconstitute the 61st Battalion as aneffective fighting force. On 7 April he informed Major W.G. Fry, the 2IC of the9th Battalion, that he had the ‘task of pulling 61 Bn together’.155 Fry had playeda key role in the defence of the 9th Battalion’s B echelon on 29 March and was ahighly respected officer.156 Field informed Bridgeford that he was ‘the only Majorin the Brigade who is competent to handle the problem and in whom I haveconfidence’.157 Field noted after a visit to Fry on 10 April:discussed the fitness of the unit for further ops. He drew a rather pessimistic picture ofthe fatigue and the nervous tension of the men some of whom have cried like childrenunder shell fire. He thinks he could push them for another three weeks but is verydoubtful if they run into any stiff fighting. It is a serious business and it would neverdo to risk an anti-climax.153 Draft report, ‘VX5172 Lt Col W.R. Dexter 61 Aust Inf Bn’, 9 April 1945, pp. 1–2,AWM 3DRL6937, Item 32, sub folder ‘W.R. Dexter’. It appears this report was sent toBridgeford with a covering letter on 14 April 1945.154 Notes by Savige on Chapter 6 of Long’s draft of The Final Campaigns, p. 2, AWM3DRL2529, Item 128.155 Field’s diary, 7 April 1945, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 7.156 Schacht, My War on Bougainville, p. 190.157 Letter from Field to Bridgeford, 14 April 1945, AWM 3DRL6937, Item 32, sub folder‘W.R. Dexter’.32 — A tale of three battalions