Its first combat was in support of the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division in Operation Greenline from 15 to 18 July, to enlarge the Odon bridgehead and advance beyond Hill 112; the German opposition held a strong position and 153rd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps suffered particularly severe casualties, including its commanding officer.

[2] After 14 days of rest and reorganisation and now under the First Canadian Army, the brigade crossed the River Seine on 4 September to prepare to Operation Astonia the assault Le Havre.

A troop of 7th Royal Tank Regiment, without infantry, had entered the fort at 11:30 a.m. and had captured Oberst Hermann-Eberhard Wildermuth, the garrison commander, his staff and 400 prisoners.

On 29 September, still lacking its transport, the 300 Churchills (including a delivery squadron), loaded with munitions, drove northwards for three days to Desvres, near Boulogne.

On 2 October, the 7th Royal Tank Regiment was detached to assist the containment of Dunkirk by 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, where it took part in the siege.

[4] The 49th (West Riding) Division was to attack towards Loenhout and then unleash a mobile force to exploit the breakthrough and move up the main road to Wuustwezel in Operation Rebound.

The fight for this point, supported by fire from 191st (H&EY) Field Regiment, took most of the remaining daylight but the bridge was seized before it could be completely demolished and B Squadron crossed, followed by the Recce Troop.

By now the Recce Troop had run out of fuel and the advance was led by A Squadron of 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment RAC.

The troops round Stone Bridge, including 1st Leicesters and 191st (H&EY) Field Regiment, had to beat off counterattacks by German armour.

At last light, 191st (H&EY) Field Regimentt called in fire from every divisional and Army Group Royal Artillery gun within range (about 200) to devastate the woodland that was holding up Clarkeforce.

For the next day's advance, the Leicesters were relieved by two companies from 7th Bn Duke of Wellington's Regiment, attacked and captured Schanker with the support of C Squadron's Churchills on the morning of 24 October.

After supporting this advance, 191st (H&EY) Field Regiment Forward Observation Officers (FOOs) rejoined Clarkeforce for its push towards Brembosch, beginning at 10:00 a.m. the following morning.

The advance encountered strong enemy rearguards, losing four tanks and an SP gun from the 245th Battery, 62nd A/T Regiment, but Clarkeforce reached the town by the end of the day.

[6][7][8] The 49th (WR) Division found the approaches to Roosendaal strongly held and the commanding officer of 1/4th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry requested a set-piece artillery- and armour-supported assault.

After the Rhine crossings, the brigade saw no further active service in Europe and was in preparation for transfer to South-East Asian theatre when the war ended.