Along with its sister brigade, the 152nd Brigade, the 153rd was effectively destroyed when it surrendered at St Valery-en-Caux on 12 June 1940. It was reconstituted from the 27th Infantry Brigade of the 9th (Highland) Infantry Division, which was reorganised in August 1940 as the new 51st Division. It went on to serve in almost all of the major battles in North Africa, Sicily and North-west Europe.