Far East August 1st 1945 – May 15th 1946

Shortly after VE Day 5th Parachute Brigade (including 7th, 12th, 13th Battalions and 22 Indep Company The Parachute Regiment) was alerted for operations in the Far East and arrived in India in August 1945, shortly after the Japanese surrender.

They were involved in clearing up the Japanese in Northern Malaya and in Internal Security duties in Singapore until December 1945. They were then despatched to restore law and order and civil government in Semerang in North Java now torn by civil strife and rival political extremist factions.  This task was completed by May 1946 and subsequently the brigade returned to the UK and was disbanded; its 7th Battalion replacing the 17th (in 1st Brigade).  The 17th together with the 12th and 13th Battalions then ceased to exist in the Regular Army.