Authority for the recruiting of the 112th Battalion, with headquarters in the historic town of Windsor, N.S., was granted in November, 1915. Its personnel was composed of officers and men drawn chiefly from the western part of Nova Scotia, embracing the counties of Halifax, Hants, Kings, Annapolis, Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens and Lunenburg. Recruiting progressed with unique rapidity and by the middle of April, 1916, the Battalion was at full strength. Over 1,500 men applied for enlistment, and of these about 300 were found medically unfit. The significance of this achievement will be seen when it is considered that it was accomplished without the aid of any extensive recruiting campaign, but by the united effort of each officer and man.

In the early days of the Unit each county was allowed to keep a detachment, providing it numbered fifty men or more, who trained in their own locality until finally mobilized in Windsor in May, 1916. There the Battalion encamped on the hill of Fort Edward, where it was subjected to a rigorous training, and the progress made elicited much praise from Major-General Sir Sam Hughes, then Minister of Militia, who inspected the Unit about the beginning of July, 1916. The period of training at Windsor was one of keen enjoyment to all concerned. Its discipline was stern, its experience was at times hard, but the life was altogether wholesome and profitable, which was evidenced by the improvement in the bearing and appearance of the Unit during its short stay at Windsor.

The Battalion was commanded by Lieut.-Col. H. B. Tremaine. The other officers were: Majors W. F. D. Brennan, second in command; T. M. Seely, M. S. Parker, T. A. Mulock; Capts. R. W. Churchill, O. G. Dauphinee (killed in action), R. T. Christie, J. Flemming (Adjutant), E. S. Spurr, M.C. (killed in action), M. P. Titus (Quartermaster), H. A. MacDonald (Paymaster), John St. C. McKay (Medical Officer), C. R. Cumming (Chaplain), G. R. Martell (Chaplain), Lieuts. J. T. Probert, M.C. (killed in action), R. S. Parsons, W. D. Comstock, J. W. Hughes, J. K. Swanson (killed in action), W. G. Foster (killed in action), G. M. Hebb (killed in action), A. M. Parsons, M.C., R. M. Morris, M.C., R. B. Logan, A. H. Creighton, P. L. Wilcox, J. W. G. Lardner, W. P. Harmon, W. H. Smith, J. C. Lithgow, R. W. Dill, E. W. Bell, C. C. Morash, M. L. Tupper (killed in action), W. J. Sangster, L. E. Langley (killed in action), R. Henshaw, R. M. McGregor (killed in action), O. H. Lunham, G. W. Banks, A. T. E. Crosby, H. L. Gates.

Capt. G. R. Martell, Rector of Christchurch, Windsor, N.S., and Chaplain of the Battalion throughout its organization, did splendid work in recruiting and was beloved by all ranks. Owing to his inability to proceed Overseas, the Rev. Charles R. Cummings was appointed Chaplain and held the position until transferred to hospital duty in England preparatory to proceeding to the Chaplain Services in France in January, 1917. Captain Martell died in June, 1918.

Colors for the 112th Battalion were made by Mrs. Annie Pratt, of Windsor, Nova Scotia, and were presented to the Battalion by Mrs. Tremaine, wife of the Commanding Officer, on Friday afternoon, July 21, 1916. The Battalion was formed up in mass in front of the bandstand at Victoria Park, Windsor, and addresses were delivered by the Chaplain, Mayor Roach, and others. The next day the colors were deposited in Christchurch, Windsor, where the officers and men attended divine service.

The 112th Battalion embarked at Halifax, July 23, 1916, on H.M.T. Olympic, and arrived at Liverpool on July 31st. Here it entrained and proceeded to Oxney Farm near Bramshott. The Unit remained there for about three weeks, after which it moved to Bramshott on the departure of the 4th Division for France. In Bramshott the Battalion was put through very intensive training, and on October 5th the first draft of 122 other ranks left for France to reinforce the 25th Battalion. On October 10th, 212 other ranks and on October 29th, 40 other ranks were sent to the 25th Battalion, all of whom proved to be a very welcome acquisition to that famous Unit. Other drafts found their way to the Royal Canadian Regiment. Most of the officers were detailed to special schools in various parts of England for a time, after which they were gradually absorbed by the Battalions already at the Front. At one time it was expected that the Battalion would become a Forestry Unit and be sent to France, but for some reason this did not eventuate, and the Battalion was gradually depleted until the remnant was finally merged into the 26th Canadian Reserve Battalion in February, 1917.