The first commander was Brigadier Horace Robertson, who joined from Australia. The new brigade was based at "Kilo 89" in Palestine before concentrating with the rest of the 6th Division at Borg El Arab in Egypt, where an intensive period of collective training, including divisional level exercises where undertaken, prior to the brigade commencing combat operations. During these exercises, the 19th Brigade assumed a defensive role while the 16th and 17th Brigades practised assault techniques. The following month, the 6th Division was sent to the Libyan border and in January 1941 they captured Bardia, during which the 19th Brigade was divisional reserve and played only a limited role, reinforcing the 17th Brigade in mopping up operations to the south of the fortress. The brigade played a more prominent role in the capture of Tobruk, moving through a gap created by the 16th Brigade, to attack the port area. Later, they joined the advance on Derna and then Benghazi, after which they were withdrawn to Ikingi Maryut for rest.