Formed in October 1914, it defended the Suez Canal in early 1915, ended the Ottoman threat to Aden in July 1915, took part in the Mesopotamian Campaign in 1916 and 1917, before finishing the war in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.

They fought a sharp action at Sheikh Othman on 20 July that removed the Turkish threat to Aden for the rest of the war,[4] before returning to Egypt in September.

[9] In 1917, the brigade took part in the Second Battle of Kut including the Capture of Sannaiyat (17–24 February) and the following advance to Baghdad including the Operations on the Tigris right bank (9–10 March), and the Occupation of Baghdad (11 March).

It arrived in January 1918, and on 1 April took over the line from 52nd (Lowland) Division (transferred to the Western Front).

[10] After the Armistice of Mudros, the brigade remained with the division as part of the occupation of Palestine until broken up in February 1920.