4th Special Service Brigade
The 4th Special Service Brigade was a brigade-sized formation of the British Commandos formed during the Second World War in March 1944 from battalion-sized units of the Royal Marines. Due to the success of the British Army Commandos' operations in Norway, the Channel Islands, St. Nazaire, and the Middle East, the Admiralty dissolved the Royal Marines Division in late 1942 and reorganized its amphibious assault infantry into eight additional Commando units.
| 4th Special Service Brigade 4th Commando Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1944 – 1946 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | British Crown |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Amphibious assault |
| Size | Brigade |
| Engagements | Normandy landings Battle of the Scheldt Battle of Walcheren Causeway |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Brigadier B. W. Leicester |
| Insignia | |
| Combined Operations Shoulder Patch | |
The Brigade was part of the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944 during Operation Overlord; it subsequently participated in the Battle of the Scheldt and the assault of the Walcheren Islands. On 6 December the same year, the Brigade was renamed 4th Commando Brigade, removing the title Special Service and its association with the German SS.