The 164th Battalion commenced recruiting on January 1, 1916, in the counties of Halton and Dufferin, with its headquarters in Milton, the county town of Halton. Brisk recruiting had brought the battalion up to a strength of about 800 men by the end of March, but it never reached full strength. The battalion was split up into small detachments scattered through the recruiting area until June 5, when it was mobilized at Orangeville, remaining there under canvas until July 2, when it was moved to Camp Borden. On October 29 the battalion commenced a route march from Camp Borden to Hamilton, a distance of about , to take up winter quarters in the Westinghouse Barracks. In February 1917 it was augmented by a draft of 250 men from the 205th Tiger Battalion, although transfers and discharges brought its strength down to about 750 by the time it arrive in England. It became part of the 5th Canadian Division. Eventually the 164th was broken up as reinforcements for Canadian units already in France.
