The Ontario Regiment and The Three Rivers Regiment were transferred from the incomplete 1st Canadian Armoured Division to provide the nucleus of 1st Canadian Tank Brigade in February 1941. In March, The Calgary Regiment joined the new brigade.

1st Tank Brigade moved to the UK in the summer of 1941; personnel arrived in the Clyde on 30 June and were promptly moved to Salisbury Plain where they were issued sufficient Churchill tanks for training. The Calgary Regiment participated in the Dieppe landing in 1942. In 1943, the entire brigade moved to the Mediterranean, with The Three Rivers Regiment participating in the assault landing at Pachino. The brigade campaigned in Sicily and was in reserve and preparing for the crossing to Italy when it was redesignated 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade at the end of August 1943.

Organization:

The Ontario Regiment

The Three Rivers Regiment

The Calgary Regiment