Tarakan Island
Once the 56th Independent Mixed Brigade arrived in Borneo, the brigade headquarters and all the combat battalions other than the 371st Independent Infantry Battalion were concentrated at Tawau. The 371st Independent Infantry Battalion was stationed in Sandakan and placed under the command of the 41st Independent Garrison Battalion. As of 20 December 1944, the brigade had responsibility for defending the area around Tawau and Tarakan Island.