In May 1942 the unit was renamed the 31st Tank Brigade and was transferred to the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division, as part as an experimental "mixed" formation of a tank and two infantry brigades.[4][5] The experiment ended on 10 September 1943, as it was judged unsuitable for the terrain in north-western Europe.[6] On 1 April 1943, the 10th RTR was renamed 7th Royal Tank Regiment, after the original was destroyed at the Battle of Gazala (May–June 1942).[4] The 31st Tank Brigade, equipped with Churchill tanks, was a follow-up unit in the Normandy landings, arriving in northern France on 19 June 1944. The brigade supported the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division until the end of July, in operations to capture the town of Caen.[4]
A Churchill tank fitted with a Crocodile flamethrower in action, August 1944.
A Buffalo of 4th Royal Tank Regiment unloads a jeep during the crossing of the Rhine, 24 March 1945
On 2 February 1945 the unit became the 31st Armoured Brigade.[7] The 7th RTR, with its Crocodiles, returned on 14 February and the brigade, as part of the 79th Armoured Division, played its part in the Operation Plunder, the crossing of the Rhine, on 24 March.[8] On 15 April, the Western Allied invasion of Germany began; the LVT Buffaloes of the 4th Royal Tank Regiment (formerly the 144th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps) was added to the brigade and was augmented by the Sherman DD tanks of the Staffordshire Yeomanry from 18 to 28 April.[4]
Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945 (V-E Day) and week later, the brigade lost the 1st Canadian APC Regiment. The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry were detached on 6 June and were replaced by the Royal Scots Greys.[4] As part of the occupation forces in the British Army of the Rhine, the 31st Brigade slowly disbanded, losing the 4th RTR on 9 June 1945, the 49th APC on 1 July, the 7th RTR on 23 August and the 141st Regiment RAC on 27 August. The 3rd Royal Tank Regiment joined on 28 August but on 31 August they and the Greys were detached from the 31st Armoured Brigade, bringing an end to the formation.[4]
