The 17th Battalion, CEF was authorized on 19 September 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 29 September 1914 where it was redesignated as the 17th Reserve Battalion, CEF on 29 April 1915, to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was eventually disbanded on 21 May 1917.[3]
The 17th Battalion, along with the 9th, 11th and 12th Reserve Battalions formed the Canadian Training Depot at Tidworth Barracks.[4]
The battalion recruited in Nova Scotia and was mobilized at Camp Valcartier, Quebec.[4]
The battalion had three Officers Commanding:
Lt.-Col. S.G. Robertson – 22 September 1914 – 30 January 1915
Lt.-Col. E.B. Worthington – 30 January 1915 – 1 September 1915
Lt.-Col. D.D. Cameron – 1 September 1915 – 4 January 1917[4]