The battalion was founded by the CEF to improve their recruitment success by having an all-Irish regiment.

Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city.

[1] After sailing to England in December 1916, the battalion was sent on a tour of Ireland at the request of the Colonial Secretary, the Canadian-born Bonar Law.

The 199th (Duchess of Connaught's Own Irish Rangers) Battalion, CEF, had two commanding officers: Lieutenant-Colonel H. J. Trihey (December 26, 1916 – January 10, 1917) and Lieutenant-Colonel J. V. O'Donahoe (January 10, 1917 – April 11, 1917).

In 1920, the perpetuation of the 199th Battalion was assigned to the Irish Canadian Rangers, a Montreal infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia that disbanded in 1936.