Australian paratroops at Labuan and Singapore

The advance detachment of 1 Australian Paratroop Battalion, AIF, approximately one hundred and twenty men, were flown to Labuan from Cairns, QLD, in preparation for being called to Singapore. It was thought that they might be flown in on 5 September 1945, as this was the day of the British landing, but it was not until the 9 September that the detachment was called. Whilst at Labuan, activities were limited to a daily parade. On 11 September 1945, a rehearsal was held for the parade to be held on 12 September, for the Ceremony of Surrender of all Japanese forces in South East Asia Command (SEAC). Japanese troops were made to work on the parade area filling in trenches dug by Allied prisoners of war during occupation. VX6215 Major William David Clark DCM, OC, 1 Australian Paratroop Battalion. Colonel M Wardell, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, SEAC.