Major-General A.E. Potts
Saskatoon Light Infantry
2nd Infantry Brigade
6th Canadian Division

I have often wondered: I commanded a division, I know training-wise, discipline-wise, I did a good job. I have no inhibitions about that. How I would have done if I had commanded a division in battle, I have no idea …

(Potts, interview, 15 Oct 1971)

Born on 24 October 1890 in Blyth, Northumberland, England, Arthur Edward Potts was a First World War veteran, University of Saskatchewan diary professor, and head of the university’s officer training corps. Educated at the University of Edinburgh with a Master’s degree from Cornell, he worked as an instructor at Ames College in Iowa prior to enlisting with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In June 1915, he joined with the 2nd Universities Company and reinforced the PPCLI as a private in France.

He was promoted sergeant in July 1916, wounded at the Somme in September and earned a commission in March 1917. He rejoined the PPCLI in November after Passchendaele and was wounded again in September 1918.

Following demobilization, Potts settled in the Canadian west, joined the University of Saskatchewan agricultural department and rose through the militia ranks. He reverted from brigadier in November 1939 to replace Lieutenant-Colonel J.M. Cleland in command of the Saskatoon Light Infantry. The next month, the SLI embarked for the United Kingdom with the 1st Canadian Division. Lieutenant H.C. Mitchell described his commanding officer:

Often since, I have thought that he was the only man who could have taken us overseas and made a going concern out of us. I still doubt that he knows which end of a machine gun the bullets come out. But he knew men and he knew the particular collection of men who made up the SLI at that time.

A veteran of 1914-18 and a long time Non Permanent Active Militia officer he knew what we had to become to be effective and he knew what we lacked. His particular forte was being able to choose men to do a job and then leaving them to do it. I always felt that I knew exactly where I stood with Pottsey.

In July 1940, Potts was promoted to brigadier of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, which he commanded during Operation Gauntlet in September 1941, the successful and bloodless raid on Spitsbergen, Norway.

Some subordinates regarded Potts as a lazy and uncertain brigadier who preferred drinking and social events to military responsibilities. During his inspection tour of Canadian senior commanders, General Bernard Montgomery found Potts lacking, remarking “We have got rid of Potts — by making him a General!!” He was soon sent back to Canada with a promotion to major-general. In the Pacific force, Potts commanded the 6th Division and then headed No. Military District (Toronto) from 1943 to 1945.

He worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs after the war and retired to Kingston. He died in Toronto on 2 September 1983 three years after being admitted to Sunnybrook Hospital.

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