After this, the battalion, having suffered heavily from disease, was briefly withdrawn back to Port Moresby for rest at the end of the month. In October, the 2/27th provided one company to the ad hoc Chaforce, providing work parties to bring up supplies and evacuate the wounded as the Australians advanced towards the Kumusi River, after the Japanese were pushed back from Kokoda. Also in October, the battalion provided a company to Jawforce, carrying out patrols between Jawarere and Nigabaifa, while a platoon was dispatched to Eilogo to form Eilogo Force. Both of these elements returned to the main body of the 2/27th in mid-November, although Chaforce remained detached at that time. In late November, the 2/27th was recommitted to the fighting as the Japanese withdrew towards their beachheads in the north. Even though it remained at only half strength, the battalion was moved by air from Port Moresby to Popondetta, and from there they joined the fighting around Gona, where the company that had been attached to Chaforce was also fighting. The fighting that followed severely depleted the battalion due to heavy casualties and tropical diseases and, as a result, by mid-January 1943 its fighting strength had fallen to just 70 men, and it was subsequently relieved by the 36th Battalion around the mouth of the Amboga River. It was then withdrawn back to Popondetta and then Dobodura for air transport back to Port Moresby. In Port Moresby, after a week of rest, the 2/27th embarked upon the transport "Jason Lee" for the voyage back to Australia, landing at Cairns in late January, before returning to the Atherton Tablelands.