| Surrey Brigade 131st (Surrey) Brigade 131st Infantry Brigade 131st Lorried Infantry Brigade 131st Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1888–1903 1908–1919 1920–1946 1947–1961 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | &sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Flag_of_the_British_Army.svg){kind=small} Territorial Army |
| Type | Infantry Lorried Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 44th (Home Counties) Division 7th Armoured Division |
| Nickname(s) | "The Queen's Brigade" |
| Engagements | Second World War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lashmer Whistler |
The 131st Infantry Brigade, originally the Surrey Brigade was an infantry formation of Britain's Territorial Army that saw service during both the First and the Second World Wars. In the First World War the brigade was in British India for most of the war and did not see service as a complete unit but many of its battalions would see service in the Middle East.
The brigade, assigned to the 44th (Home Counties) Division, saw extensive service in the Second World War, in France and was later evacuated at Dunkirk in May 1940. It later saw service in the North African Campaign in late 1942 at El Alamein and Tunisia, Salerno in Italy, both in late 1943, and the invasion of Normandy and throughout North-west Europe from June 1944 until May 1945. From late 1942, when 44th Division was broken up, the brigade served with the 7th Armoured Division. Some sources call the brigade the 131st (Queen's) Brigade, due it being composed solely composed of battalions from the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).