The 2nd Battalion The Cameron Highlanders were assigned to the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade, 4th Indian Infantry Division. They were stationed in Egypt at the outbreak of the War, and served in the campaigns for North Africa from September 1940 until their capture at Tobruk 22 June 1942. At Tobruk, assigned to 2nd South African Infantry Division, the 2nd Camerons had continued to fight alone for 24 hours after the Brigade command had capitulated, and those that were unable to escape marched into captivity led by their pipers. A Royal Artillery officer was witness to the arrival of 2nd Camerons to the POW cage: "We heard, although we could scarcely believe it, the skirl of pipes. There, in the brilliant sunshine, marching down the centre of the road from the escarpment, came a long column of men. The Jerry traffic was brought to a standstill or forced on to the verges. A strange awed murmer went up from the cage: "The Camerons!" "In columns of threes they marched with a swing to the tune of their pipers - 'The March of The Cameron Men' - each company led by its company commander, just as though they were on parade. It was a supremely moving sight, although some of us could only see it hazily through our tears. "Even the Jerry sentries sprang to attention as the battalion neared the gates. There, the Camerons halted. Their Colonel reported to the Brigadier, saluted, and dismissed his men, who had held out for twenty-four hours after the surrender order had been issued." Excerpt from Tobruk: The Story of a Seige, by Anthony Heckstall-Smith, 1960.

    To revive this Regular Army battalion, on 20 December 1942 the 4^th battalion The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (228^th Independent Infantry Brigade, Orkney & Shetland Defenses) were disbanded and renumbered the 2^nd Battalion. They continued to serve with 228^th Independent Infantry Brigade until 15 September 1943. They were again re-assigned to the 11^th Indian Infantry Brigade, 4th Indian Infantry Division on 3 January 1944, moving to Taranto, Italy on 25 January. They then fought as part of the 4th Indian Division in the lengthy campaigns in Italy (25 January 1944 - 22 November 1944) and were then sent to Greece (25 November 1944 - 3 July 1945) to help counter the civil war between the warring Greek political factions . After hostilities in Europe had ended, the 2^nd Camerons were flown to Austria as part of 61^st Infantry Brigade, 6^th Armoured Division for occupation duties from 3 July 1945 to 31 August 1945.