The battalion was used mainly in the garrison role, defending the islands of the Torres Strait at the northern tip of Queensland, although in 1943 a detachment was sent to patrol Dutch New Guinea.

[4] In June 1942, following Japan's entry into the war the previous December, the decision was made to expand the unit and an appeal for further volunteers was sent out.

[4] Between October and December 1943, a detachment from the battalion was sent to Dutch New Guinea, where they carried out patrol operations in search of Japanese occupation.

[5][8] Despite the discriminatory pay scales the Islanders generally appreciated the Army's culture, as its discipline and hierarchy allowed them to be treated with respect by white soldiers.

[10] The Torres Strait Island Light Infantry Battalion represented a significant contribution to the Australian war effort in terms of population, with the majority of able bodied Torres Strait Islander males of military age serving during the war.

[3] The last surviving member of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion, Mebai Warusam, died in July 2023.