Following Japan's entry into the war in December 1941, the Australian government began pressing for some of the AIF forces in the Middle East to be returned to Australia, to help defend against the Japanese advance in the Pacific. In late January 1942, the 2/27th embarked from Egypt aboard the "Ile de France", sailing once again via Bombay. There, the battalion was transferred to the "City of London". During the voyage, there were plans to divert the convoy to Java, to reinforce the Australian and Dutch forces there against the Japanese, but the deteriorating situation there resulted in the convoy being re-routed. After a port-call in Colombo, the convoy reached Fremantle on 15 March for a brief shore leave before proceeding on to Port Adelaide, where the 2/27th disembarked. Following a brief period of leave, the 21st Brigade concentrated in Queensland – the 2/27th being based around Caloundra – where, over the course of several months, they were prepared for deployment to the Pacific theatre.