[1] However the core of the brigade's present history descends from the 49th (West Riding) Division, which fought in both World Wars.

In the Second World War, the division was involved in the Norwegian Campaign, the guarding of Iceland, and Operation Overlord, where it landed in Normandy under XXX Corps.

It was part of the reformed Territorial Army (as an armoured formation for a time) from 1947 to 1967.

[1] The Brigade Headquarters was reformed as a regular HQ with TA units in 1982 as part of 2nd Infantry Division.

[1] The brigade now has regional responsibility for Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Leicester, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Essex, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Rutland.