Many British nationals from the United Kingdom or colonies who were resident in Canada during the First World War joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, which was deployed to the Western Front.
Although some enlisted in British Army organs in Canada, including the Royal Flying Corps, most joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
Bermudians had long played important roles in the government and development of the continental colonies of British North America and the Dominion of Canada.
Although a civilian, Bermudian-born Sir Joseph Outerbridge was the commanding officer of the Church Lads' Brigade from 1890 to 1894, and during the First World War was the vice president of the Patriotic Association of Newfoundland (which was not then a part of Canada), which raised and maintained the Newfoundland Regiment (organised as part of the British Army, rather than the Canadian Militia).
The regiment had been formed following a meeting at the Colonial Office on 10 August 1914, where representatives of the Church Lads Brigade, the Methodist Guards, the Catholic Cadet Corps, the Newfoundland Highlanders, the Legion of Frontiersmen and St. John's Rifle Club agreed to form a unit of 500 all ranks, administered by a Reserve Force Committee chaired by Sir Joseph Outerbridge.