 Following the Japanese surrender , the 27th Battalion ceased operations and was transported to Torokina , where they had to wait for shipping to become available for repatriation back to Australia to begin the demobilisation process . This process began in October 1945 , albeit slowly , and gradually the battalion 's numbers decreased as men were repatriated back to Australia or were transferred to other units for further service . Long service men received priority for discharge , while some men volunteered to be transferred to the battalions of the 34th Brigade that were being formed on Morotai Island for service as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan . Finally , on 1 May 1946 , the battalion was disbanded . 
