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. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920. The 116th Battalion recruited in Ontario County and was mobilized at Uxbridge, Ontario. The battalion had four Officers Commanding: •
Lt.-Col. S.S. Sharpe, DSO, 23 July 1916 – 28 December 1917 •
Lt.-Col. G.R. Pearkes, VC, DSO, MC, 28 December 1917 – 17 September 1918 • Lt.-Col. D. Carmichael, DSO, MC, 18 September 1918 – 26 November 1918 •
Lt.-Col. G.R. Pearkes, VC, DSO, MC, 25 November 1918-Demobilization 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. == Battle honours ==