1st australia 1st parachute infantry battalion australian_army raised service second world war formed early volunteers airborne training despite achieving high level readiness battalion action war disbanded early history like british_army australia parachute operations capability outbreak second world war demonstration effectiveness forces germans early stages conflict soon provided impetus development efforts raise operational parachute capability australian_army began november volunteers selected initial training newly formed new_south_wales initial parachute courses consisting jumps march personnel trained army consider forming parachute battalion result 1st raised time near sydney new_south_wales initially raised reduced scale rifle companies battalion personnel mainly drawn volunteers army units independent companies set carry irregular warfare result battalion personnel seen active service prior accepted volunteers completed parachute training 1st parachute training unit joining battalion completion training qualified wear adopted 1st symbol elite status april based battalion raised troop engineers consisting officers ranks 1st specially trained undertake clandestine work alongside battalion rifle companies battalion australia airborne unit required extensive training consequently addition basic parachute training richmond battalion trained jungle warfare queensland september major 13th field company appointed commanding officer time training continued tactics reserve fatalities occurred rifle company formed october january battalion strength following company battalion level exercises battalion declared ready operations moved fourth rifle company formed june august battalion gained organic indirect fire support joined parachute qualified 1st equipped short pounder guns late battalion alerted begin preparations operations borneo borneo campaign preparing airborne operations battalion conducted amphibious training late january early february possible role amphibious landing battalion operation shortage suitable aircraft months later battalion warned prepare mission rescue thousands allied prisoners held japanese operation cancelled lack aircraft prisoners subsequently killed japanese subsequently known disappointment deployed borneo caused significant frustration battalion soldiers requesting transfers infantry units requests denied battalion instructed prepare operate alongside british planned liberation singapore taken place later war ended operations took place following japanese surrender battalion ordered prepare deploy singapore garrison duties advance party men arrived singapore september rest battalion remained australia unit contributed honour guard main surrender ceremony men sent join force performed general garrison duties returning australia january orders received battalion january carried following day sydney composition 1st organised following sub units company company company october company june 1st 1st mountain battery august
1st Parachute Battalion (Australia)