Australian 1st Parachute Battalion

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Australian 1st Parachute Battalion
Soldiers from the 1st Parachute Battalion boarding a C-47 in 1944
Active	1943-1946
Country	Australia
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Parachute infantry
Battle honours	None

The Australian 1st Parachute Battalion was an Australian Army battalion of World War II. Formed in early 1943 the Battalion did not see action during the war and was disbanded in 1946.

[edit] History

The 1st Parachute Battalion was formed in early April 1943 at RAAF Base Richmond near Sydney. The Battalion was initially formed on a reduced scale of only two rifle companies, with its personnel being drawn from volunteers from other Army units. These volunteers completed their parachute training with 1st Parachute Training Unit before joining the Battalion.

As Australia's first airborne combat battalion, the 1st Parachute Battalion required extensive training. In addition to training in airborne operations at Richmond, the Battalion also trained in jungle warfare at the Australian Army's tough training centre at Canungra in Queensland. A third rifle company was formed in October 1943.

Following company and battalion level exercises the 1st Parachute Battalion was declared ready for operations in May 1944 and moved to Mareeba airstrip in North Queensland. A fourth rifle company was formed in June 1944 and the Battalion was joined by the parachute qualified 1st Mountain Battery (equipped with short 25 Pounder guns) in September 1944.

In late 1944 the Battalion was alerted to begin preparations for operations in Borneo as part of the Borneo campaign (1945). As well as preparing for airborne operations, the battalion conducted amphibious training in late January and early February 1945 to prepare for a possible role in spearheading the amphibious landing at Balikpapan. The Battalion's role in this operation was cancelled due to a shortage of aircraft (the battalion required 30 to 60 C-47 transports).

The Battalion was also warned in early 1945 to prepare for a mission to rescue the Allied prisoners at Sandakan. This operation was, however, also cancelled due to a lack of aircraft and the prisoners were murdered in the Sandakan Death Marches.

Members of A Company, 1st Parachute Battalion during a training flight in 1944

Following the disappointment of not being deployed to Borneo the Battalion's morale appears to have collapsed with many soldiers requesting transfers to other infantry units. These requests were denied as the Battalion had been instructed to prepare to operate alongside British paratroopers in the liberation of Singapore later in 1945.

Following the Japanese surrender, the Battalion was ordered on 23 August to prepare to deploy to Singapore for garrison duties. While an advance party of 120 men arrived in Singapore on 9 September the remainder of the battalion remained in Australia and was disbanded later in 1945. The unit in Singapore contributed an honour guard to the main surrender ceremony and performed general garrison duties before returning to Australia in January 1946. Upon the unit's return the Australian 1st Parachute Battalion was disbanded at Sydney on 30 January 1946.

The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment are currently Australia's parachute-qualified battalions.