CFB Borden - Major-General Worthington

 

Location:  Simcoe County     N 44.28714   W -79.89158

In Worthington Park, west side of Dieppe Road.

This memorial is dedicated to the Major-General Frederic Franklin Worthington, the "Father of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps".   "Worthy" or "Fighting Frank", as he was nicknamed, was born in 1899 in Scotland and lived a storied life of adventure until his death in 1967.  He is buried here, along with his wife Clara, at the top of the ridge that runs through Worthington Park in the heart of CFB Borden.  His military career saw him fight in the Mexican Civil War and both World Wars.  After the First World War he was a strong proponent of adopting armoured fighting vehicles.  Thanks to Worthington's determination, Canada acquired its first tanks in 1938: two Vicker light tanks, and ten more the following year.Worthington went on to become the leader of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, setting up training and the procurement of tanks, making CFB Borden the home of the tankers.   Worthington served as General Officer Commander in Chief of Pacific Command from 1 April 1945 to 26 January 1946. Later he was appointed the first Colonel-Commandant of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. 

 Worthy died on 8 December 1967 at Ottawa's Military Hospital. After his funeral in Ottawa, Worthy's body was flown by a RCAF Caribou aircraft to Camp Borden and in accordance with his wishes, was interred in Worthington Park. Four Centurion tanks fired a 13 gun salute and three RCAF Chipmunk aircraft did a low-level "fly-past", in tribute to a great soldier and Canadian. 

Today Worthington Park remains as a strong reminder of the birthplace of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps and a tribute to its father, Frederic Franklin "Fighting Frank" "Worthy" Worthington.