the battalion saw combat on d-day in operation tonga on 6 june 1944, the battle of the bulge in december and the river rhine crossing in march 1945. after the war ended in europe, the battalion, with the 5th parachute brigade, was sent to the far east to undertake operations against the japanese empire. however, the war ended just after the men had started jungle training. moving by sea, the battalion took part in the reoccupation of malaya and singapore. problems in java resulted in the battalion being sent to batavia (jakarta) to control the unrest, until relieved by a dutch force.