[5] The 1st Canadian Divisional Cyclist Company sailed from Quebec City for the United Kingdom aboard SS Ruthenia on 29 September 1914, arriving in England on 15 October 1914.

[7] The Cyclist Company was key to supporting the famed Canadian defensive action during the chlorine gas attack on Gravenstafel Ridge; its personnel worked almost without rest between 22 and 29 April to keep the divisional headquarters informed during a period of great uncertainty and risk for the Allies in the Ypres sector.

The majority of 1915 and the first period of 1916 saw the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisional Cyclist companies operating independently, supporting their divisions in the field, largely performing line of communications duties.

[8][6] In 1914 the Government of Canada recognized that there would be a requirement for a permanent Overseas Cyclist Depot in the United Kingdom for the duration of the war to establish a pool of trained replacements proximate to France and Flanders.

[11] The previously independent Cyclist Companies were reorganized into a single battalion was to provide the newly formed Canadian Corps with corps-level Mounted Troops.

The original divisional identities of the three independent companies were reflected in the new triangular “battle patch” for the battalion, worn on shoulders, helmets and bicycles.

[13] C Company were kept in reserve with the Canadian Light Horse at Mont-Saint-Éloi for the attack to go in and then exploit its success by penetrating weaknesses in the German lines, ultimately with the objective of seizing the town of Willerval.

[13] After Vimy, the battalion returned to some of its earlier line of communications duties, but also began to re-orient its training towards mounted warfare as a formed body of Cyclists.

[2] It was within this force that the Canadian Corps Cyclist Battalion was finally enabled to operate in the way it had been - conducting screening and reconnaissance tasks for the cavalry and infantry, often far in advance.

[8] The battalion was employed in this capacity until the end of hostilities and participated in the wide range of battles and actions which comprised the Hundred Days Offensive.

As Mounted Troops, the Cyclists remain eligible for formal recognition for their service during the First World War through the award of battle honours in accordance with GOs 6 & 7 of 1928.

The units of the Canadian Intelligence Corps conduct annual acts of remembrance associated with the Cyclists’ role in the Hundred Days Offensive.

The Corps was only active for a short period 8 October 1942 until 28 August 1943) during the Second World War and the sponsorship eventually fell to that of the Royal Canadian Engineers.