Portal:Military history of Australia/Units/November 30

Soldiers from the 1st Parachute Battalion in a C-47 in 1944

The 1st Parachute Battalion was an Australian Army battalion of World War II. The 1st Parachute Battalion was formed in early April 1943 at RAAF Base Richmond near Sydney. As Australia's first airborne combat battalion, the 1st Parachute Battalion required extensive training and was not declared ready for operations until May 1944. While the Battalion was alerted for a role in the Australian-led Borneo Campaign, this did not eventuate and the Battalion did not see action. Following the Japanese surrender part of the Battalion deployed to Singapore for garrison duties, remaining there from September 1945 until January 1946. The 1st Parachute Battalion was disbanded in Sydney in January 1946.