This request was not particularly well received by sections of the New Zealand Government, which already felt its contributions to the war effort were not being fully recognised by the British.

However, Massey did place a caveat on the brigade in that no additional reinforcements would be sent to maintain it, and if required, it could be used to supply replacements for the New Zealand Division.

This, together with the fact that the New Zealand Division had incurred relatively few losses since the Battle of the Somme the previous year, meant that there was a reserve of around 10,000 men available with which to draw upon for the new brigade without adversely affecting the ability to replace existing troops in the field, in the short-term at least.

[3] Godley appointed newly promoted Brigadier General Herbert Ernest Hart as the commander of the brigade.

[4] Hart was an experienced soldier, having served at both Gallipoli and the Western Front as a battalion commander, and immediately implemented a rigorous training programme for his troops.

[6] Initially the brigade came under the command of II Anzac Corps, to which the New Zealand Division was attached, and was based at Bailleul.

[6] It was initially tasked with holding a quiet section of the frontlines near Messines, and conducted limited offensive actions in order to tie up German manpower in the area.

The New Zealand Division was to launch an attack on Gravenstafel Spur, running off the Passchendaele Ridge, as part of what would become known as the Battle of Broodseinde.

Despite some resistance from machine gun nests and pockets of infantry sheltering in shell holes, the 'Blue Line' objective was reached by 4 Brigade at 09:30.

Both Godley and Major General Russell, the commander of the New Zealand Division, specifically acknowledged the contributions of the 4th Brigade towards the success of the attack.

[12] The attack, which commenced on 12 October, proved to be a costly failure with the New Zealand Division suffering heavy losses with over 600 killed and 2000 odd wounded.

In New Zealand, there was still lingering resentment at the manpower demands being placed upon the country, compared to those made on Australia and Canada.

[22] After consultation with the British government, it was decided that New Zealand's primary contribution to the war effort would be in the form of an infantry division.

[25][Note 2] The brigade commander was Brigadier Edward Puttick, a professional soldier in the New Zealand Military Forces, who had led a rifle battalion in the First World War.

[29] The Germans began their invasion of Greece on 6 April and within a few days, the Aliakmon Line was abandoned with the brigade being redeployed to Servia Pass following the collapse of the Yugoslav Third Army in neighbouring Yugoslavia.

[31] The 18th Battalion also fended off initial probing attacks by elements of the 9th Panzer Division but were unable to prevent the Germans from occupying Servia.

[32] However, they were withdrawn on 13 April to the Thermopylae Line, a new defensive position 140 kilometres (87 mi) to the south, due to pressure on their flanks.

[34] However, on 22 April, the Allies decided to abandon Greece[35] and the brigade made its way to Porto Rafti, east of Athens, from where it was evacuated to Crete.

[38] The 2nd New Zealand Division began preparing for a role in the upcoming Libyan offensive, and several divisional and brigade level exercises were carried out.

[45] It remained in the line throughout August and into September at which time, having been reduced to just 350 personnel, it was withdrawn to Maadi to rejoin the reconstituted 4th Brigade.