The 31st Brigade was originally raised in the First World War in 1914, by volunteers from Kitchener's Army.

During the First World War, it was assigned to the 10th (Irish) Division and served in the Middle Eastern theatre at Gallipoli, Salonika and Palestine.

[2][3] On 26–27 September 1940, it was assigned to defend the Royal Military Canal, a few miles from Hythe and Dover on the south coast.

There is a detailed description of this defence area in British archaeological survey sources.

'It probably lost its unique badge at about this time although it did not lose its Group status until 10 March 1943.