In the early part of the war, the Brigade served in the East African campaign before seeing action against the Japanese in Burma in 1944–45.
[1] During the East African Campaign, the brigade was part of Andrew Cunningham's force which attacked from Kenya into Italian Somaliland and then advanced into Ethiopia.
[2] In October 1942 command of the brigade passed to Brigadier Ernest Western who was to remain in this role until March 1945.
[3] It first advanced south along the Kalapanzin valley, then crossed a steep and jungle-covered mountain range to converge with the British 81st (West Africa) Division on Myohaung at the mouth of the Kaladan River.
This move forced the Japanese to evacuate the Mayu peninsula which they had held for almost four years, and retreat south along the coast.