The battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 23 July 1916.

From October to December 1916 it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps.

On 11 February 1917 it disembarked in France, where it fought with the 9th Canadian Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.

[2] The battalion had four Officers Commanding: The twice-Officer Commanding the Battalion, Lt.-Col. George R. Pearkes, would go on to a distinguished military and political career.

He retired from the Canadian Army in 1945 as a Major-General, served as a Member of Parliament, including as the Minister of National Defence from 1957 to 1960 and as the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia from 1960 to 1968.