56th 56th unit world war raised june reinforce defences japanese occupied borneo initially stationed north east island early brigade units ordered area west borneo brigade personnel subsequently making difficult march centre island june july 56th saw combat australian forces borneo campaign units greatly strength time casualties suffered moving borneo elements engaged australian forces rapidly defeated remainder brigade withdrew central borneo surrendered australians following end war history formation decided reinforce garrisons southern philippines borneo ahead expected allied offensive liberate areas effort 54th 55th 56th 57th ordered formed service june aside formed converting existing unit new brigades organised forward areas personnel shipped japan formation 56th assigned process establishing 56th took longer expected delayed deployment borneo battalions worth personnel departed japan mid july arrive borneo september final elements 56th reached borneo mid november personnel allocated brigade trained japan organised fighting units arrival borneo shipped borneo separately weapons equipment organisation complete 56th comprised infantry battalions authorised strength men small artillery engineer signal units like independent mixed brigades raised 56th trucks small number horses transport equipment supplies brigade commanded major general superior headquarters initially disagreed 56th deployed july believed allies likely invade northern borneo january later wanted station brigade area judged allied forces likely attack western borneo support drive singapore area army believed difficult transfer units northern western borneo island rugged terrain eventually won debate 56th units landed area borneo arrived japan 56th arrived borneo brigade headquarters combat battalions concentrated stationed placed command 41st december brigade responsibility defending area late 37th army changed views likely allied intentions concluded expected invasion probably focused agreed assessment ordered january 37th army forces concentrated allies air superiority borneo nearby waters possible units borneo sea instead need march island 56th began march borneo late january proved difficult movement mountainous jungle centre island hampered poor state road network bad weather food shortages brigade soldiers fell sick march infantry battalions considerably authorised strength time arrived bay april june transferred direct control 37th army remained shipped southern borneo march assigned 22nd special naval base force brigade widely dispersed following arrival area june brigade headquarters stationed located inland town formed main body island garrison support units 56th 56th signal units brigade heavy weapons left casualties incurred march borneo combat units fit battle brigades large numbers support units invaded area june time 56th main japanese combat force region process withdrawing inland defensive positions located rice growing areas destroyed 24th brigade days times fierce fighting retreated formed unit broke small groups fought rearguard action australian 20th brigade attacked 24th brigade involved defence weeks war remnants pursued australian_army patrols air attacks groups local organised attacks led unit major general led remnants forces stationed number japanese civilians inland town trek took days involved traversing mountainous terrain forces involved suffered heavy casualties percent soldiers killed june end war combat remained largely intact end war following japanese surrender survivors 56th concentrated locations selected australian forces structure 56th comprised following units brigade headquarters independent mixed brigade artillery unit 56th unit
56th Independent Mixed Brigade