The unit was one of two created to address the manpower shortage of 21st Army Group in early 1945.

They were quickly re-mustered as regular infantry, organised as a standard Army brigade.

[2] The Brigade was stationed in England until after the German surrender when it was moved forward to occupy the naval port of Kiel[3] as part of VIII Corps,[4] releasing 46th Highland Brigade for occupation duties elsewhere.

[2] It also had to deal with the arrival of ships carrying troops returning from the Eastern front, and also civilian refugees from Soviet-occupied Germany.

[5] On one particularly busy night this involved taking command of 21 destroyers and removing 14,000 soldiers from shipping.