The brigade was never deployed in combat, remaining in the UK to act as a home defence and training unit, and provided replacements for other formations.

The unit was formed in the UK on 1 December 1941 when the 225th Independent Infantry Brigade was converted to armour and renamed the 35th Army Tank Brigade[2][3] as part of Northern Command.

[5] They were equipped with the Canal Defence Light, a Matilda II or Churchill (and later M3 Grant) tank, fitted with a turret containing a 13 million candlepower (12.8 million candela) searchlight, designed to dazzle, disorient, and temporarily blind the enemy.

[6][7] The 151st Regiment RAC was detached on 4 August 1942,[8][9] to join the 25th Army Tank Brigade, and was replaced by the 49th Royal Tank Regiment on 16 August, the brigade having been renamed 35th Tank Brigade the previous day,[2] and transferred to the command of GHQ Home Forces on 8 August.

[8][9] Brigadier H. T. de B. Lipscomb was appointed Commanding Officer of the 35th Brigade on 4 December 1941, remaining in post for the entirety of the unit's existence.