British brigades of the Second World War

This is a list of British Brigades in World War II. It is intended as a central place to access resources about formations of that size that served in the British Army during World War II.

Armoured Brigades

 * 1st Light Armoured Brigade
 * 2nd Light Armoured Brigade
 * Light Armoured Brigade (Egypt)
 * 1st Heavy Armoured Brigade
 * Heavy Armoured Brigade (Egypt)
 * 1st Armoured Brigade
 * 1st Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade
 * 1st Armoured Engineer Brigade
 * 1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers (in with armoured brigades since it was equipped with specialist tanks)
 * 2nd Armoured Brigade
 * 2nd Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade
 * 3rd Armoured Brigade
 * 4th Armoured Brigade
 * 5th Guards Armoured Brigade
 * 6th Guards Armoured Brigade
 * 7th Armoured Brigade
 * 8th Armoured Brigade
 * 9th Armoured Brigade
 * 10th Armoured Brigade
 * 11th Armoured Brigade
 * 20th Light Armoured Brigade
 * 20th Armoured Brigade
 * 21st Armoured Brigade
 * 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade
 * 22nd Armoured Brigade
 * 23rd Armoured Brigade
 * 24th Armoured Brigade
 * (Dummy Tanks)
 * 25th Armoured Engineer Brigade Royal Engineers
 * 26th Armoured Brigade
 * 27th Armoured Brigade
 * 28th Armoured Brigade
 * 29th Armoured Brigade
 * 30th Armoured Brigade
 * 31st Armoured Brigade
 * 33rd Armoured Brigade
 * 34th Armoured Brigade
 * 35th Armoured Brigade
 * 74th Armoured Brigade (Dummy Tanks)
 * 87th Armoured Brigade (Dummy Tanks)
 * 137th Armoured Brigade

Cavalry Brigades

 * 4th Cavalry Brigade
 * 5th Cavalry Brigade
 * 6th Cavalry Brigade

Army Tank Brigades

 * 1st Army Tank Brigade
 * 6th Guards Tank Brigade
 * 10th Tank Brigade
 * 11th Tank Brigade
 * 21st Army Tank Brigade
 * 23rd Army Tank Brigade
 * 24th Army Tank Brigade
 * 25th Army Tank Brigade
 * 31st Army Tank Brigade
 * 32nd Army Tank Brigade
 * 33rd Army Tank Brigade
 * 34th Army Tank Brigade
 * 35th Army Tank Brigade
 * 36th Army Tank Brigade

Motor Machine Gun Brigades

 * 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade
 * 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade
 * 3rd Motor Machine Gun Brigade

Armoured Division Support Groups

 * Guards Support Group
 * 1st Support Group
 * 2nd Support Group
 * 6th Support Group
 * 7th Support Group
 * 8th Support Group
 * 9th Support Group
 * 11th Support Group
 * 42nd Support Group

Infantry Brigades

 * 1st (Guards) Brigade
 * 1st London Infantry Brigade
 * 2nd Infantry Brigade
 * 2nd London Infantry Brigade
 * 3rd Infantry Brigade
 * 3rd London Infantry Brigade
 * 4th Infantry Brigade
 * 4th London Infantry Brigade
 * 5th Guards Brigade
 * 5th Infantry Brigade
 * 5th London Infantry Brigade
 * 6th Guards Brigade
 * 6th Infantry Brigade
 * 6th London Infantry Brigade
 * 7th Guards Brigade
 * 7th Motor Brigade
 * 8th Infantry Brigade
 * 9th Infantry Brigade
 * 10th Infantry Brigade
 * 11th Infantry Brigade
 * 12th Infantry Brigade
 * 13th Infantry Brigade
 * 14th Infantry Brigade
 * 15th Infantry Brigade
 * 16th Infantry Brigade
 * 17th Infantry Brigade
 * 18th Infantry Brigade
 * 19th Infantry Brigade
 * 20th Independent Guards Brigade
 * 22nd Infantry Brigade
 * 22nd Guards Brigade
 * 23rd Infantry Brigade
 * 24th Guards Brigade
 * 25th Infantry Brigade
 * 26th Infantry Brigade
 * 27th Infantry Brigade
 * 28th Infantry Brigade
 * 29th Infantry Brigade
 * 30th Infantry Brigade
 * 31st Independent Brigade Group
 * 32nd Guards Brigade
 * 33rd Independent Guards Brigade
 * 35th Infantry Brigade
 * 36th Infantry Brigade
 * 37th Infantry Brigade
 * 38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade
 * 42nd Infantry Brigade
 * 43rd Infantry Brigade
 * 44th Infantry Brigade
 * 45th Infantry Brigade
 * 46th Infantry Brigade
 * 52nd Infantry Brigade
 * 53rd Infantry Brigade
 * 54th Infantry Brigade
 * 55th Infantry Brigade
 * 56th Infantry Brigade
 * 61st Infantry Brigade
 * 66th Infantry Brigade
 * 69th Infantry Brigade
 * 70th Infantry Brigade
 * 71st Infantry Brigade
 * 72nd Infantry Brigade
 * 113th Infantry Brigade
 * 114th Infantry Brigade
 * 115th Infantry Brigade
 * 116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines
 * 117th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines
 * 119th Infantry Brigade
 * 120th Infantry Brigade
 * 121st Infantry Brigade
 * 125th Infantry Brigade
 * 126th Infantry Brigade
 * 127th Infantry Brigade
 * 128th Infantry Brigade
 * 129th Infantry Brigade
 * 130th Infantry Brigade
 * 131st Infantry Brigade
 * 132nd Infantry Brigade
 * 133rd Infantry Brigade
 * 134th Infantry Brigade
 * 135th Infantry Brigade
 * 136th Infantry Brigade
 * 137th Infantry Brigade
 * 138th Infantry Brigade
 * 139th Infantry Brigade
 * 140th (4th London) Brigade
 * 141st (5th London) Brigade
 * 142nd (6th London) Brigade
 * 143rd Infantry Brigade
 * 144th Infantry Brigade
 * 145th Infantry Brigade
 * 146th Infantry Brigade
 * 147th Infantry Brigade
 * 148th Infantry Brigade
 * 150th Infantry Brigade
 * 151st Infantry Brigade
 * 152nd Infantry Brigade
 * 153rd Infantry Brigade
 * 154th Infantry Brigade
 * 155th Infantry Brigade
 * 156th Infantry Brigade
 * 157th Infantry Brigade
 * 158th Infantry Brigade
 * 159th Infantry Brigade
 * 160th Infantry Brigade
 * 161st Infantry Brigade
 * 162nd Infantry Brigade
 * 163rd Infantry Brigade
 * 164th Infantry Brigade
 * 165th Infantry Brigade
 * 166th Infantry Brigade
 * 167th (1st London) Infantry Brigade
 * 168th (2nd London) Infantry Brigade
 * 169th (3rd London) Infantry Brigade
 * 170th Infantry Brigade – North Africa deception unit
 * 171st Infantry Brigade – North Africa deception unit
 * 172nd Infantry Brigade – North Africa deception unit
 * 176th Infantry Brigade
 * 177th Infantry Brigade
 * 178th Infantry Brigade
 * 182nd Infantry Brigade
 * 183rd Infantry Brigade
 * 184th Infantry Brigade
 * 185th Infantry Brigade
 * 197th Infantry Brigade
 * 198th Infantry Brigade
 * 199th Infantry Brigade
 * 200th Guards Brigade
 * 201st Guards Motor Brigade
 * 201st Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 202nd Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 203rd Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 204th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 205th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 206th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 207th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 208th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 209th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 210th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 211th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 212th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 213th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) later 140th Brigade
 * 214th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 215th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 216th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 217th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 218th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 219th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 220th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) later 141st Brigade
 * 221st Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 222nd Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 222nd Infantry Brigade
 * 223rd Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 224th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 225th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 226th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 227th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 227th (Highland) Infantry Brigade
 * 228th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
 * 231st Infantry Brigade
 * 232nd Infantry Brigade
 * 233rd Infantry Brigade
 * 234th Infantry Brigade
 * 301st Infantry Brigade
 * 302nd Infantry Brigade
 * 303rd Infantry Brigade
 * 304th Infantry Brigade
 * 305th Infantry Brigade
 * 306th Infantry Brigade
 * 307th Infantry Brigade
 * 308th Infantry Brigade

Parachute and Airlanding Brigades

 * 1st Parachute Brigade
 * 2nd Parachute Brigade
 * 3rd Parachute Brigade
 * 4th Parachute Brigade
 * 5th Parachute Brigade
 * 1st Airlanding Brigade
 * 6th Airlanding Brigade
 * 14th Airlanding Brigade

Anti-Aircraft Brigades

 * 1st Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 4th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 5th Searchlight Brigade
 * 6th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 7th Light Anti-Aircraft/Searchlight Brigade
 * 8th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 9th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 10th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 11th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 12th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 13th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 14th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 15th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 16th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 17th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 18th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 20th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 21st Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 22nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 23rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 24th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 25th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 26th (London) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 27th (Home Counties) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 28th (Thames and Medway) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 29th (East Anglian) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 30th (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 31st (North Midland) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 32nd (Midland) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 33rd (Western) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 34th (South Midland) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 35th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 36th (Scottish) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 37th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 38th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 39th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 40th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 41st (London) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 42nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 43rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 44th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 45th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 46th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 47th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 48th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 49th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 50th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 51st Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 52nd Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 53rd Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 54th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 55th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 56th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 57th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 58th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 59th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 60th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 61st Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 62nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 63rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 64th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 65th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 66th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 67th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 68th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 69th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 70th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 71st Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 73rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 74th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 75th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 76th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 7th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 79th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 80th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 81st Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 82nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 83rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 100th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 102nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 101st Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 103rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 105th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 106th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 107th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 1st Royal Marine Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * 5th Royal Marine Anti-Aircraft Brigade

Colonial Brigades

 * 21st (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 22nd (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 25th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 26th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 27th (North Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade
 * 28th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 29th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 30th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 31st (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 2nd (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 3rd (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 4th (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 5th (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 6th (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 7th (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
 * 1st Sudan Defence Force Brigade
 * 2nd Sudan Defence Force Brigade
 * 1st Gibraltar Brigade
 * 2nd Gibraltar Brigade
 * 1st Malaya Infantry Brigade
 * 2nd Malaya Infantry Brigade
 * 1st (Malta) Infantry Brigade
 * 2nd (Malta) Infantry Brigade
 * 3rd (Malta) Infantry Brigade
 * 4th (Malta) Infantry Brigade
 * Hong Kong Infantry Brigade
 * Kowloon Infantry Brigade

Jewish Brigade

 * Jewish Infantry Brigade Group

Special Service/Commando Brigades

 * 1st Special Service Brigade
 * 2nd Special Service Brigade
 * 3rd Special Service Brigade
 * 4th Special Service Brigade

Adriatic Brigades

 * Vis Brigade
 * Adriatic Brigade

Notes and references

 * Orders of Battle, Lt.-Col. H. F. Joslen, Rtd., Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-84342-474-6. Reprint of 1960 2 volume history published by HMSO.
 * Brig N.W. Routledge, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55, London: Royal Artillery Institution/Brassey's, 1994, ISBN 1-85753-099-3.
 * Patriot Files
 * The Royal Artillery 1939–1945
 * Orders of Battle