The Western Universities Battalion was formed in 1916 with its membership drawn primarily from students and alumni of the Universities of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. The organizers felt that a distinctive western unit composed exclusively of men of similar background would be desirable and to this end they sought to attract "those earnest, studious men of practised intellect and proved ability, who are most fit to play their parts as leaders of men in the most difficult and complex science of modern warfare." The recruiting and organization of "D" Company (British Columbia) was entrusted to Major R.W. Brock. The unit was housed on the University of British Columbia campus with drilling, marching and arms training taking place on the King Edward High School grounds. "D" Company joined the rest of the W.U.B. at Camp Hughes in Manitoba in the fall of 1916 and members of the Battalion saw their first action in Europe in 1917.
From the description of Western Universities Battalion "D" Company collection. 1916-1972, predominant 1916-1918. (University of British Columbia Library). WorldCat record id: 606456953
