and were destined to fight in some of the worst and most violent battles of the Italian campaign where, during a German counterattack on 3 February, the brigade was almost completely surrounded and was only saved from annihilation by a counterattack from the 1st Battalion, London Scottish of 168th (London) Brigade (temporarily detached from its parent unit, the 56th (London) Infantry Division, to come under 1st Division command). The brigade continued to fight in numerous battles around Anzio and even when not, were still subjected to almost constant artillery, mortar or small arms fire. The brigade fought in the breakout from the Anzio beachhead and Operation Diadem. In October 1944, while the 3rd Brigade was fighting on the Gothic Line with the Eighth Army, Private Richard Henry Burton of the 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment was awarded the Victoria Cross. In the same battle, Captain Arthur Burns was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. The brigade fought in Italy until 28 January 1945 when they were sent to Palestine as a garrison where they remained to the end of the war. Order of battle The 3rd Infantry Brigade was constituted as follows during the war: 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters 3rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (formed 3 September 1939, disbanded 31 December 1940) Commanders The following officers commanded 3rd Infantry Brigade during the war: Brigadier H.O. Curtis (until 18 December 1939) Lieutenant Colonel J.M.L. Grover (Acting, from 18 to 28 December 1939) Brigadier T.N.F. Wilson (from 28 December 1939 until 19 December 1940) Brigadier W.R.C. Penney (from 19 December 1940 until 26 September 1941) Lieutenant Colonel R. Bryans (Acting, from 26 September until 20 October 1941) Brigadier H.A.E. Matthews (from 20 October 1941 until 24 April 1943) Brigadier R.H. Maxwell (temporary, from 24 to 30 April 1943) Brigadier J.G. James (from 30 April 1943 until 27 April 1944) Brigadier E.E. Dorman-Smith (from 27 April until 14 August 1944) Lieutenant Colonel B.W. Webb-Carter (Acting, from 14 to 26 August 1944) Brigadier P. St Clair-Ford (from 26 August 1944 until 26 April 1945, again from 16 May 1945) Lieutenant Colonel W.H. Hulton-Harrop (Acting, from 26 April to 16 May 1945) Post-war As part of 1st Division, the 3rd Brigade was in Egypt after the war until returning to Chiseldon, Wiltshire. During the Suez Crisis the brigade was moved to Malta, in