Far East Land Forces (FARELF) takes effect

Following the sudden and unconditional surrender by the Japanese during World War II, the Allied Land Forces South East Asia (ALFSEA), which was then under the aegis of the combined South East Asia Command (SEAC) forces, faced the daunting task of quickly disarming the Japanese and reoccupying Malaya and other parts of Southeast Asia. With the liberation of these territories, the SEAC was disbanded.^[1] Following the disbandment, the ALFSEA was reorganised into the South East Asia Land Forces from 1 December 1946.^[2]

After the war, the British regarded the problems resulting from internal unrest as the only real threat to Southeast Asia. The Far East theatre was reduced to a strategic backwater and all operationally-ready imperial units were directed to move out from Singapore and Malaya to the Middle East where a war with Russia was anticipated. The British had envisaged that locally trained police and military units would serve as the primary defence force for the internal security and local defence of the Far East.^[3] On 15 August 1947, the South East Asia Land Forces was replaced by the Far East Land Forces (FARELF) with its headquarters in Singapore.^[4]

The FARELF was tasked to develop an infantry division made up of Gurkhas, as well as advise and oversee the re-establishment of volunteer forces and the Malay Regiment in consultation with the local colonial governments.^[5] In 1948, the slow pace of development of the Gurkha infantry division and other local defence forces meant that Malaya was undermanned and militarily unprepared for any but the smallest contingencies.^[6] The declaration of Emergency in Singapore and Malaya in June 1948, and the Malayan campaign to counter it elevated the importance of the FARELF. From a strategic backwater, the  FARELF was instrumental  in leading the fight against  communism during the Cold War.^[7]

References
1. Sbrega, J. J. (Sep. - Oct., 1979). The Japanese Surrender: Some unexpected consequences in Southeast Asia.  Asian Affairs, 7(1), 48. Retrieved from JSTOR; World War II – Rangers lead the way. (n.d). South-East Asian theatre of World War II. Retrieved May 12, 2014, from: http://www.desertwar.net/south-east-asian-theatre-of-world-war-ii.html; UK Parliament. (1946, November 26). S.E.A.C. disbandment. Hansard (Vol. 430 cs245–6W). Retrieved May, 12 2014, from: http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1946/nov/26/seac-disbandment
2. Gen. Stopford – the man. (1946, November 21). The Singapore Free Press, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Pollman, J. C. (1992, January). Soldier as policeman in Southeast Asia 1945–1946 [thesis] (p. 1). Retrieved May 12, 2014, from Defense Technical Information Center website: http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a242888.pdf
3. Gregorian, R. (2002). The British Army, the Gurkhas and Cold War strategy in the Far East, 1947–1954 (pp. 30–31, 43). New York, N. Y.: Palgrave, Hampshire. Call no.: R 355.033041095 GRE.
4. "Farelf". (1947, July 25). The Straits Times, p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Gregorian, 2002, pp. 43–44.
6. Gregorian, 2002, pp. 44, 48.
7. Gregorian, 2002, p. 50.