[1][2] The battalion was formed in the aftermath of the failed Gallipoli campaign when the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was expanded as part of plans to transfer it from the Middle East to Europe for service in the trenches along the Western Front.

[3] Trained as infantrymen, the pioneers were tasked with light combat engineer functions in the field, with a large number of personnel possessing trades from civilian life.

[4] A total of five pioneer battalions were raised by the AIF during the war, with one being assigned to each of the five infantry divisions that the Australians deployed to the battlefield in France and Belgium.

[6] After the sub-units had formed in their home locations – Liverpool, Bathurst, Brisbane, Blackboy Hill, and Adelaide – the battalion began concentrating at Campbellfield in April 1916.

[1] After a brief period of acclimatisation in a "nursery sector" around Armentieres,[12] the battalion's first major action came around Messines in June 1917, during which several of the battalion's companies were assigned to the assaulting companies to dig communication trenches while other troops were assigned general engineering duties such as road clearance, tramway maintenance, anti-aircraft defence and water supply, laying pipes and ensuring that they were maintained throughout the battle.

[14] One member of the battalion, Lance Corporal Walter Peeler, received the Victoria Cross, for his bravery during the Battle of Broodseinde in October 1917.

[17] The battalion wintered around Messines, during which time it provided reinforcements to the Australian engineer tunneling companies, as well as helping to construct and maintain the divisional tramway systems.

[18] In early 1918, the battalion took part in efforts to blunt the German spring offensive, serving around Belle, Heilly and Ribemont between March and May 1918.

[21] The battalion's final actions of the war came against the Hindenburg Line, around the St. Quentin Canal in early October 1918, during which a company of Americans from the US 102nd Engineers were attached to them.

[22] The battalion was subsequently withdrawn from the line for reorganisation along with the rest of the Australian Corps after the battle around the St. Quentin Canal, and moved back to the Abbeville area.

[23] Of the five Australian pioneer battalions, it spent the longest period of time in the infantry role, spending more days in combat, standing-to and in the line than any of the others.