 The last batch of long service men had departed shortly after the battalion 's arrival at Lake Trasimene , and so after this it was decided that the battalion would return to New Zealand as a formed unit . As such their return was to be delayed and so they found winter quarters in Florence . At this time it was decided that men from the battalion would be included within the New Zealand contribution to the occupation of Japan . In this vein , a 270 @-@ strong contingent from the battalion was sent to Japan under the designation of ' D ' Squadron , 2nd Divisional Cavalry Battalion , under the command of Major J.S Baker . Finally , on 6 December the battalion entrained at Florence and embarked on the troopship Dominion Monarch at Taranto on Boxing Day . Passing through the Suez Canal , they sailed via Fremantle , arriving in Wellington on 23 January 1946 , where they were met by the acting Prime Minister , Walter Nash , at Aotea Quay for an official Māori welcome home ceremony . Afterwards the men were sent back to their homes and the battalion was disbanded . 
