 They were quickly convinced of the necessity to train paratroopers as Germany successfully deployed paratroopers in battles to annex Austria, Norway, the Netherlands and Crete.As part of Australia's contribution to the defence of the British Empire and our own shores then under threat by the Japanese, the 1st Parachute Battalion was formed in late 1942 and was the first airborne combat battalion to exist in the Australian armed forces.The members of the Battalion were recruited from the ranks of the army and most of the men had already seen active service in other theatres of war.