List of British Commonwealth and Empire brigades of the Second World War

This is a list of army brigades of the British Commonwealth and Empire during the Second World War.

These brigades were often part of larger military formations composed of units from the United Kingdom, Dominions, British India and Crown Colonies. At the time, despite their multi-national composition, such formations were often referred as "British".

The territories and peoples comprising many countries mentioned below have changed since the war; in some cases the names of countries have changed or do not correspond to modern country names.

In the list below:

"formed from" indicates that a brigade was created in part from another unit and;
"formerly" indicates a simple unit/name change.

Australia[edit]

Canada[edit]

RCA = Royal Canadian Artillery

New Zealand[edit]

South Africa[edit]

SAA = South African Artillery

Straits Settlement[edit]

Straits Settlements Volunteer Force Brigade

Notes[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c Brigade redesignated as "regiment" for interoperability purposes with US Army in Pacific, Stacey, C P., Queen's Printer, Ottawa, 1955, pg 516
^ Ad hoc formation in Defence of Hong Kong, Stacey, C P., Queen's Printer, Ottawa, 1948, pg 298
^ Ad hoc formation in Defence of Hong Kong, Stacey, C P., Queen's Printer, Ottawa, 1948, pg 295

References[edit]

History of the Second World War (104 volumes), Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London 1949 to 1993
Official History of Australia in the War of 1939–1945 (22 volumes), Australian Government Printing Service, 1952 to 1977
Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Vol I Six Years of War, Stacey, C P., Queen's Printer, Ottawa, 1955
The Canadian Army 1939 – 1945, An Official Historical Summary, Stacey, C P., Queen's Printer, Ottawa, 1948
Official History of the Indian Armed Forces in the Second World War 1939-45 (24 volumes), Combined Inter-Services Historical Section, India & Pakistan, New Delhi, 1956-1966
Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45, Historical Publications Branch, Wellington, New Zealand, 1965
Official Lineages DND, Ottawa

[:0-1] Brigade redesignated as "regiment" for interoperability purposes with US Army in Pacific, Stacey, C P., Queen's Printer, Ottawa, 1955, pg 516

[2] Ad hoc formation in Defence of Hong Kong, Stacey, C P., Queen's Printer, Ottawa, 1948, pg 298

[3] Ad hoc formation in Defence of Hong Kong, Stacey, C P., Queen's Printer, Ottawa, 1948, pg 295

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e British military formations during the Second World War
Higher level commands	Commands and Army Groups Armies Corps
Divisions	British British Indian Commonwealth
Brigades	Airborne Anti-aircraft Commonwealth and Empire British Indian Infantry (1–100) (101–308 and named) Mobile Special Service
Deception	Allied British