The brigade, under the command of Brigadier Frank Festing, led the invasion of Madagascar by Force 121 on 5 May 1942. It left Madagascar for two weeks in East Africa in late August 1942 and finally departed on 16 October 1942 for South Africa. After two months, the brigade departed for India, arriving on 26 January 1943, and came under the command of Frank Festing's 36th Indian Infantry Division, where it was trained in amphibious assault operations. It entered Burma on 12 February 1944.