168th Battalion (Oxfords), CEF

The 168th Battalion (Oxfords), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the First World War. Authorized on December 22, 1915, it was raised in Woodstock, Ontario, and the surrounding Oxford County region. The battalion recruited primarily from the Oxford Rifles militia regiment.

The 168th Battalion embarked for Great Britain on November 3, 1916, sailing aboard the SS Olympic. Upon arrival, the battalion was initially stationed at Bramshott Camp. It was subsequently absorbed into the 6th Reserve Battalion on January 13, 1917. The unit’s personnel were then used as reinforcements for Canadian units serving on the Western Front.

The battalion was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel W.T. McMullen. The 168th Battalion (Oxfords), CEF, is perpetuated by The Oxford Rifles, a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces.