Borden in Simcoe County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Canadian Tank School 50th Anniversary
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 6, 2024
1. Canadian Tank School 50th Anniversary Marker
Dedicated to the memory of those who have served in war and peace.
Cette plaque est dédié à la mémoire de tous ceux qui ont servi en temps de paix et de guerre.
Erected 1986 by Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • Patriots & Patriotism. A significant historical year for this entry is 1936.
Location. 44° 17.28′ N, 79° 53.481′ W. Marker is in Borden, Ontario, in Simcoe County. It can
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Central Ontario Cottage Country and specifically in Georgian Bay Country. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Canadian Armoured Corps 50th Anniversary (a few steps from this marker); British Centurion MK5 Main Battle Tank / Char de combat principal britannique Centurion MK5 (within shouting distance of this marker); United States M5A1 "Stuart" Light Tank / Char léger américain M5A1 Stuart (within shouting distance of this marker); Worthington Park Memorial
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 6, 2024
2. Canadian Tank School 50th Anniversary Marker
Looking west across Worthington Park, Canadian Forces Base Borden.
Also see . . . Fighting Frank – “The Father of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps”.
(by Bruce Forsyth) Excerpt: By 1936, with the threat of another European war looming, the idea of a Tank Corps for the Canadian Army was revived. On 1 November 1936, the Canadian Tank School was established at Wolseley Barracks in London, Ontario. Major-General Frederic Frank “Fighting Frank” Worthington, affectionately known to his troops as “Worthy”, became the first Commandant of the new school, overseeing a complement of seven officers, eighteen NCOs, 12 machine gun carriers but had no tanks. The Canadian Tank School’s stay in London was short lived due to a shortage of adequate training space. Worthy, then an Acting Major, was posted to Bovington Army Camp in England to learn more about tanks.(Submitted on May 31, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)The school re-located to Camp Borden on 1 May 1938, where it was re-named the Canadian Armoured Fighting Vehicle School. With the outbreak of World War II, the School became an important training centre for Canada’s emerging Armoured Corps. As the school had no tanks to use for training, Worthy went to the U.S. looking for assistance. With the help of General George Patton, Worthy unofficially bought 265 Renauld tanks, built in 1917 but still in new condition, from the storage facility at the Rock Island Arsenal. As the U.S. was still neutral at this time and could not officially sell arms to other countries, the tanks were sold as scrap metal and shipped to the Camp Borden foundry under the name of “Mr. F.F. Worthington”.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 28, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 104 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 31, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
