equipment and stores, and ceremonial duties, including mounting guard at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The 34th Brigade's occupation also coincided with the post war Japanese government's creation of the Recreation and Amusement Association which provided organised prostitution to allied occupation troops. This resulted in a large epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases throughout occupying allied forces, with the 34th Brigade having a rate of 55% infection amongst its ranks. As a result of the withdrawal of British and Indian forces throughout 1947, the brigade had to expand the area in which it operated at that time. By June of that year, the Australians made up the bulk of the BCOF, representing 6,250 personnel out of the total force of 6,850. In October the New Zealanders also withdrew, and shortly thereafter, as a result of the stable security situation in Japan, the Australian government decided to reduce its contribution to the Allied occupation force from a full brigade, to just one infantry battalion, as well as one fighter squadron and supporting personnel in an effort to build up the newly established Australian Regular Army. As a result, in late December 1948 the brigade and two of the three infantry battalions (the 65th and 66th) returned to Australia. Upon its return to Australia, the 34th Brigade was redesignated the 1st Brigade. The Australian contribution to the occupation of Japan continued, however, as the 67th Battalion (which had been re-designated the 3rd Battalion, Australian Regiment in November 1948) remained as the Australian Army's only combat unit in Japan. In early 1950, the Menzies government announced that it would finally withdraw all its forces later in the year, although the outbreak of the Korean War prevented this and ultimately 3 RAR remained in Japan until September 1950 when it was deployed to Korea, where it served as part of the 27th Commonwealth Brigade. Composition The primary elements of the 34th Brigade were: Brigade Headquarters 1st Armoured Car Squadron 65th Infantry Battalion (re-designated 1 RAR in 1949) 66th Infantry Battalion (re-designated 2 RAR in 1949) 67th Infantry Battalion (re-designated 3 RAR in 1949) A Battery, RAA 28th Field Squadron, RAE 13th Australian Army Troops Company, RAE 34th Provost Company 20th Field Ambulance Notes References Further reading . 34 British Commonwealth Occupation Force Military units and formations established in 1945 Military units and formations disestablished in 1948