Cadet training on the Sunalta school grounds in Calgary with sergeant Major Alex Ferguson on extreme left F.S.5.328

It is difficult in a web site of this nature to explain in any detail the cause of the Great War. It is generally understood that the assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Ferdinand, by a Serbian nationalist in June of 1914 set off a chain of events which were instrumental in causing the war.

Austria attacked Serbia while Germany was allied with Austria and prepared to attack not only Russia but Russia's allied forces. Britain and its empire had ties to France and had taken on the long-standing commitment to ensure Belgium's neutrality.

When the German army moved into neutral Belgium to attack France in the summer of 1914, Britain upheld its treaty obligations to defend Belgium. On August 4th, 1914 when the German government failed to respond to Britain's ultimatum to withdraw their armies, Britain declared war with Germany; as did Canada and all other members of the British Commonwealth.

Canada offered immediately to raise a force to serve in England and on the continent. By August 28, 1914, sixty Cranbrook volunteers were ready to entrain for basic training and final embarkation overseas from Valcartier, Quebec.