The 28th (North-west) Battalion was recruited in 1914 from the Manitoba / Saskatchewan area of Canada. The battalion went overseas to Britain as part of the 'Second Contingent' in June of 1915. There it joined 6th Brigade, 2nd Division of the Canadian Corps. In September of that year, they crossed the channel and were promptly sent to the front lines. The Battalion suffered its first major casualties within the month when "D" company was nearly wiped out from a mine explosion near Kemmel. This, and later battles, taught the men of the battalion its craft, and winnowed the ranks of the original recruits. http://www.nwbattalion.com/28thbattalion.html
