Camp Borden: A Century of Service is an overview of the history of this iconic institution. Over ten decades Borden has been a temporary posting, as either instructor or trainee, for countless thousands of military men and women who have served Canada in peace and war. For generations it has been a home to military families. And for a century it has been a part of the local community fabric of Ontario. This book, in a small way, pays tribute to Camp Borden as a unique part of Canada’s history and heritage. It is not the complete story of Camp Borden, but hopefully it will inspire the reader to dig deeper into the layered history of a Canadian military treasure. Profusely illustrated with a good number of photos published here for the first time.
For one hundred years Camp Borden has been part of the Canadian military landscape. During that time it has become an integral part of the history of the country, the province and the local counties. Thousands of men and women who have passed through Borden’s gates have gone on to the serve the nation in peace and war leaving their mark on the Camp in countless ways. Families have called it home, even if for the short period of time that makes up a military posting, creating stories and memories of their own. Units have come and gone; some with the startling rapidity that is a hallmark of military life, while others have resided at Borden for decades and each has a rich history of its own. To put it simple, the history of Camp Borden is too large a tale to be captured in a book of this size.
So the reader should consider this but a taste of the sumptuous banquet that is Borden’s story. Commissioned by Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Beaton (Retired), the Director of the Base Borden Military Museum, this book commemorates one hundred years of a very unique institution, but it does not tell the complete tale. There is much more work to be done. And an excellent starting place would be a visit to the Military Museum, and its Air Force Annex, where one will discover elements of Camp Borden’s history that could not be covered in so slim a publication. Reaching out and touching one of the armoured vehicles in the Major-General Worthington Memorial Tank Park, or visiting the restored First World War training trench, will give the visitor a concrete link to the words in this book.
Wrinkles and all, Camp Borden is still going strong and will “soldier on” for many years to come. The landscape may change, buildings will come and go, and its role will adapt to changing times, but the men and women who are the heart and soul of Borden will see to it that the camp continues to serve Canada with honour. The stories that will fill the next chapter of Borden’s history are even now being written.
Enjoy the read.
Major William A. March, CD
Trenton, Ontario,
March 2016
Table of Contents
Preface iv
Chapter 1: Birth to the End of The First World War 1
Why Borden 2
Establishing the Camp 3
The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force 8
The End of the War 12
Chapter 2: The Interwar Period: 1919-1939 13
Cradle of Military Aviation 14
1924 and Beyond – the Royal Canadian Air Force 16
Where was the Army 25
Chapter 3: The War Years: 1939 - 1945 29
Mustering as to War 30
Armoured Beginnings 31
Land Force Training Expansion 34
And on the other side of Camp Borden – the RCAF 41
Chapter 4: Peace to Unification: 1946 - 1970 53
A Transition to Peacetime… Again 54
…And on the Other Side of the Camp 59
The Borden Community 67
Unification 72
Chapter 5: Canadian Forces Base Borden: 1970 - 1990 75
October Crisis, 1970 76
Ongoing Reorganization 77
Chapter 6: Canadian Forces Base Borden: 1990 - 2016 93
A Changing World 94
Blackdown Cadet Training Centre 102
CFB Borden Today 115
For one hundred years Camp Borden has been part of the Canadian military landscape. During that time it has become an integral part of the history of the country, the province and the local counties. Thousands of men and women who have passed through Borden’s gates have gone on to the serve the nation in peace and war leaving their mark on the Camp in countless ways. Families have called it home, even if for the short period of time that makes up a military posting, creating stories and memories of their own. Units have come and gone; some with the startling rapidity that is a hallmark of military life, while others have resided at Borden for decades and each has a rich history of its own. To put it simple, the history of Camp Borden is too large a tale to be captured in a book of this size.
So the reader should consider this but a taste of the sumptuous banquet that is Borden’s story. Commissioned by Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Beaton (Retired), the Director of the Base Borden Military Museum, this book commemorates one hundred years of a very unique institution, but it does not tell the complete tale. There is much more work to be done. And an excellent starting place would be a visit to the Military Museum, and its Air Force Annex, where one will discover elements of Camp Borden’s history that could not be covered in so slim a publication. Reaching out and touching one of the armoured vehicles in the Major-General Worthington Memorial Tank Park, or visiting the restored First World War training trench, will give the visitor a concrete link to the words in this book.
Wrinkles and all, Camp Borden is still going strong and will “soldier on” for many years to come. The landscape may change, buildings will come and go, and its role will adapt to changing times, but the men and women who are the heart and soul of Borden will see to it that the camp continues to serve Canada with honour. The stories that will fill the next chapter of Borden’s history are even now being written.
Enjoy the read.
Major William A. March, CD
Trenton, Ontario,
March 2016
Table of Contents
Preface iv
Chapter 1: Birth to the End of The First World War 1
Why Borden 2
Establishing the Camp 3
The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force 8
The End of the War 12
Chapter 2: The Interwar Period: 1919-1939 13
Cradle of Military Aviation 14
1924 and Beyond – the Royal Canadian Air Force 16
Where was the Army 25
Chapter 3: The War Years: 1939 - 1945 29
Mustering as to War 30
Armoured Beginnings 31
Land Force Training Expansion 34
And on the other side of Camp Borden – the RCAF 41
Chapter 4: Peace to Unification: 1946 - 1970 53
A Transition to Peacetime… Again 54
…And on the Other Side of the Camp 59
The Borden Community 67
Unification 72
Chapter 5: Canadian Forces Base Borden: 1970 - 1990 75
October Crisis, 1970 76
Ongoing Reorganization 77
Chapter 6: Canadian Forces Base Borden: 1990 - 2016 93
A Changing World 94
Blackdown Cadet Training Centre 102
CFB Borden Today 115