1939 - The Battalion is mobilised
At Aldershot in September, the 17th Infantry Brigade gathers, formed of the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders, the 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment and the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Each battalion's strength was increased by officers and men arriving from the training depots and on being recalled to the colours.
The brigade forms an Anti Tank company and each of the battalion's donates an officer and a platoon's worth of troops to man it.
The Battalion (minus D Coy) left Aldershot by train for on the SS Brighton from Portsmouth on the 17th October and sailed for Cherbourg, arriving at this port in the very early morning of October 19th. It was hoped that this route would avoid enemy air attack that were prevalent on the shorter sea routes.
D company follows a day later.
In France, the 2nd Seaforth were replaced by the 6th Seaforth from the 51st (Highland) Division.
Thereafter the 17th Brigade remained unchanged throughout the war.
The original brigade commander was Brigadier M. G. N. Stopford.
The 5th Division, consisting of the 13th, 15th, and 17th Brigades, came into being in France late in 1939.