[2] In this configuration, the brigade was transferred to the Western Front in Europe, and fought through the Battle of the Somme before the New Zealand Division was restructured.

[3] Following this, the brigade fought in the Battle of Messines[4] and the Third Battle of Ypres during 1917,[5] before helping to turn back the German spring offensive in early 1918,[6] and then taking part in the Allied Hundred Days Offensive in the final months of the war.

After the armistice, the brigade was committed briefly to post-war occupation duties until the New Zealand Division disbanded in early 1919.

[7][8] The 1st Infantry Brigade was re-established prior to the Second World War as a Territorial Force formation manned by part-time reservists.

[citation needed] After the threat of invasion passed, the 1st Brigade and the other home defence formations were reduced in size during 1943.