The 5th Parachute Brigade was sent to the Far East in preparation for a potential invasion of Japan. However, only the advance elements of the Brigade had reached the Far East prior to the Japanese surrender.
The Brigade was subsequently heavily involved were in clearing the Japanese in Northern Malaya and in Internal Security duties in Singapore until December 1945.
The Brigade was 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 with the arrival of a Dutch Brigade to reassume colonial government.
The Brigade returned to Singapore prior to and subsequently the brigade return to the UK.
It was during this period in Singapore that 258 men of the 13th Battalion refused to obey orders at Muar Camp due to conditions and were charged with mutiny. In the subsequent trial 3 men were acquitted, 8 sentenced to 5 years, and the remainder given 2 years. However, after much publicity in the UK with 10s of thousands of people signing petitions, 2 days later the sentences were quashed.
Back in the UK the Brigade 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.
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