Towards the end of 1944, Axis air activity over Italy had decreased significantly, leading to the return of APC personnel to their traditional duties. In April 1945, the Eighth Army spearheaded the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy. The APC supported their effort, reaching Trieste and the Austrian border. Germany signed an unconditional surrender on 2 May, ending the fighting on the Italian front but demobilization of the approximately 36,000 APC soldiers was postponed time after time due to shipping shortages. After the end of the war the APC was initially transferred to Palestine, morale suffered and members of the APC struck and conducted small mutinies. The last APC company sailed for home in the spring of 1946 and the unit was disbanded in 1949. A total of 1,216 APC soldiers perished during the war. During the course of the war APC's personnel were awarded two MBEs, seven Military Medals, eight British Empire Medals, 61 were mentioned in dispatches and 23 Commendations.