But in the Far East the conflict was far from finished. There 3 Cdo Bde under the command of Brigadier Campbell Hardy – he later became Commandant General of the Royal Marines and a staunch Patron of the Commando Association - had to wait until January 1945 before seeing action, but when its turn came it responded nobly to fighting of a ferocity that appalled even the most seasoned and hardy veterans.

The Bde first occupied Akyab and followed this with a three-day battle for Myebon, where it destroyed a Japanese cavalry regiment before pushing up the Daingbon Chaung in LCA's in a bold tactic to take up positions astride the enemy's communications at Kangaw. The Japanese counter attacked with relentless determination (31st January), attacking en masse and enduring huge casualties in a way utterly strange to those soldiers accustomed to the more modern methods of European warfare.

The battle raged all day. In the end, the vital feature, Hill 170, remained firmly in Commando hands, but the total casualties of the Commandos killed and wounded were 134 all ranks, of which nearly half were from No. 1 Commando; in contrast the Japanese lost about 450 men in their final attack.

Among the many outstanding deeds of heroism shown that day on Hill 170 was that of Lieut. G. K. Knowland, of No. 1, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. The Commander of the 15th Indian Corps issued a Special Order of the Day praising the Commandos, writing: "The battle of

Kangaw has been the decisive battle of the whole Akyab campaign and that it has been won was largely due to your magnificent courage on Hill 170".

3 Cdo Bde was subsequently earmarked for operation 'Zipper', the invasion and liberation of Malaya, but this was pre-empted by the dropping of the atom bombs and the Japanese acceptance of the Allies' surrender terms on 14th August. With it came the end of the Commandos' fighting in World War II, although they all had occupational duties in their respective theatres of War.