WORTHINGTON TANK PARK Photo Gallery by mrclark at pbase.com

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WORTHINGTON TANK PARK

WORTHINGTON TANK PARK CFB BORDEN 2004

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Anita Harvie		15-Feb-2025 18:45
I am Doug P.'s eldest daughter, an army brat who remembers the tank park well. It's wonderful to see these old photo's & comment from Dad about the work he & others did to work on these beautiful tanks. Thanks to all Military personal at C.F.B. Borden. It was a wonderful place to spend part of my childhood!

Vicki T		02-Jun-2015 16:07
I lived in Borden a few times, last in the early 70's. I lived right on the corner of Amiens Loop, direct across from the tank park. We had riots up there, even at night lol. Good times

Doug P		18-Dec-2013 05:18
I was attached to the Armoured Corps School in 1961 as a weapons tech. Our little workshop was asked if we could get Gen Worthington's Matilda tank running for an annual march past that the General would be attending. We were given $100 to do this job. The tracks were welded together, the engine & transmission and transfer case were nowhere to be found. The turret was immobilized and the gun welded in a slightly depressed configuration. We started work by freeing up the tracks and towing Matilda into our workshop area. Now the fun could begin. We found a Buick engine & transmission and had to build mounts for it in Matilda. We did not have a radiator so we used two 25 gallon barrels filled with water for cooling. Once the engine was mounted we had to find a rear transfer case. That was found on a training Dodge vehicle. A two speed rear axle, too long but we could modify it to fit. I had to make a short drive shaft to connect everything together. Once almost mobile we found that the brakes we inoperative and try as we might we could only get the brakes on onside of the tank working. We could now turn right but in order to turn left we had to back up and get straightened out that way. We got the turret freed up so it would rotate but the gun elevation and depression gears were missing so we had to dip & raise the gun from the commanders position by foot. It worked. The first engine blew up on us and we had to acquire another using ingenious methods. (Read what you want in there) Now to put Matilda on the road for an annual inspection with Gen Worthington in attendance. Remember this was his tank that was brought home after the war. On the big day there were three of us in Matilda. I was the driver, we had a mechanic in the body of the tank to change gears for us and our CQMS as the tank commander. The parade was formed up with the RCEME tank recovery vehicle directly in front of Matilda as we did not know how far she would go. Lo and behold we only had to straighten her out once, stop, reverse, turn, forward again. We came to a right turn on the route and then past the saluting base where we dipped the gun in salute and got past the saluting base about 200 feet and Matilda gave up the ghost with a broken universal joint. Not to worry though our efficient tank recovery crew saw us in trouble, backed up to us a loaded us onto the tank retriever. It appeared it was planned but it was strictly an accident that turned out well. I must say Gen Worthington had tears in his eyes when Matilda went by him on the saluting base. We got Matilda into the workshop and the next thing we know Gen Worthington is with us going over his "office" and showing lots of emotions. He thanked us profusely after spending about half an hour with Matilda. Just a little bit of the history of one tank in the museum.

Guest		23-May-2013 14:18
I was an Air Force Brat at Camp Borden circa 1958 - 1965 and we often rode our bikes to the Army side of the base. I remember getting my head stuck in one of those tanks in Worthington Park trying to look into it from the overhang. My ears hurt for a long time! Meredith

Jennifer Svendsen		17-Nov-2012 03:40
I also grew up as an army brat in Borden in the early 1970's. We had a blast playing "war of these tanks!" Also loved playing in the and dunes, forests and swamps! It really was the best place to grow up! Fond memories. I really missed it when my father transferred out.

Guest		19-Jun-2012 16:58
Went back to visit the tank park with my daughter in May of 012. So many memories as that was about the time our troop, R77, would have been hard at work on the landscaping. I wonder what happened to everybody. Excellent soldiers. H huts all torn down and the parade square is a parking lot. Something basically wrong with that as we shed much sweat on that pde sq under the kind direction of Sgt Boucher and Cpl's Pepin and Brown. At least the old MLS shopping centre was still there and this time I could afford to buy something.

guest		15-May-2012 06:41
Grew up some early years at Camp Borden(Army Base Brat), climbing , jumping off of all these was great for fun and srtength building of me once posted (Dad)((rip)to Ottawa often as i could i would go climb this train on st.laurent blvd.... now its trees I climb !!!

Manfred Hubbert		22-Dec-2010 23:31
The Way is to long for me,(Germany)! and my Money Bag is to smal.Great Sample verry nice! I love Tanks!

Guest		03-Nov-2010 18:01
If anyone know something about the "British" Panther tank "Cuckoo", contact to: kennethnegron@rocketmail.com. A million of thanks.

Guest		03-Nov-2010 17:53
If anyone know something about the "British" Panther tank "Cuckoo", contact to: kennethnegron@rocketmail.com. A million of thanks.

Guest		03-Nov-2010 15:36
"Cuckoo" was attached to the 4th Coldstream Guards, 6th Armored Brigade and in its short but interesting career, this captured Panther performed quite well against its former owners. Unfortunely, was left behind in early 1945, due of a fuel pump failure. That's the last thing about "Cuckoo". Excuse my English; I mean "Cuckoo" was FOUND, not FOUNDED. I hope someone find something about this armored "guy".

Guest		03-Nov-2010 15:22
Awesome! By the way, I would like to know of the whereabouts of the most famous captured Panther tank in Allied hands: "Cuckoo", founded by the British inside a Dutch barn in 1944, in the aftermaths of Operation Market-Garden.

J. R. Digger MacDougall		16-Aug-2009 19:16
Further to comments below on Canadian War Museum: I am a Volunteer Interpreter at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. The Panzer V has been restored and on permanent display but is not a runner. Many of the other tanks are on display at the CWM as well, including the cut-away Sherman that my NCO instructors used as a training aid. The CWM opened in May, 2005. It is impressive, family-friendly and worthy of a visit. If you are interested in Canadian history or Canadian military history do visit this world-class museum and if you are there on a Tuesday or Saturday, ask for "Digger" and I will show you around

J. R. Digger MacDougall		16-Aug-2009 19:03
A wonderful collection of photos of a lot of rolling stock I used to "own". As Acting Officer Commanding "Driving and Maintenance Squadron" at the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School, I had to sign for the tanks and related armoured fighting vehicles. I have photos of many of the vehicles including one of me and my friends around the Panzer V. Throughout my 33 years in the Canadian Forces I spent many of those years at Borden. I have great memories. Thanks for sharing these awesome photos Cheers eh!! Digger

Guest		06-Sep-2008 02:07
God I feel old..was there in 63 Armoured Corp.. R 79...great bunch of guys..Most nco,s were ww11 types.

W. Bruce Clark		01-Aug-2006 00:18
No. The only vehicle that has made its way to CWM from Borden recently is the Panther A. It was moved in February 2005 prior to CWM's opening. It is to be restored but to date other than opening the hatches and inspecting the interior, little restoration work has been done. Many of the vehicles and almost all of the artillery has been moved off Worthington Park ,sand blasted ,repainted and placed in other spots around base. There is now a fairly impressive display at the entrance to CFB Borden with a Helicopter on plinth, Grizzly and Anchor. Inside the base you follow a row of repainted vehicles/ guns towards the museum. The new museum hangar west of Worthington has some of the more interesting vehicles now safely inside- Whippet, Ft-17, Matilda, Valentine, T-55(?) cutaway, the various softskins,etc. Finding it open to the public has been kind of hit and miss...

mrclark		05-Jul-2006 05:49
most of the tanks are now at the new canadian war museum I am told, I'm going to check it out this year and see if its true, stay tooned for more pics

Guest		04-Jul-2006 16:21
did my armour gmt and trades trg from may to dec 63 (R77) in camp borden. mixed memories of the tank park as if we incurred the wrath of our ncos we spent the weekend cleaning, painting, sweeping, raking, putting in walkways and generally spiffing up the grounds. did not really appreciate the history at the time. hope to visit sometime. MK Carswell

Kevin Roberts		12-Jun-2006 21:09
Thanks for posting these pictures. I lived at Camp Borden from 1963 to 1969 (airforce brat) and have many wonderful memories of climbing over the tanks and squeezing through the flat iron lattice they welded on some to keep larger kids out. Not much inside but bird nests, but still a great experience being where I wasn't supposed to be, and seeing where they kept the shells strapped in the turret. These pictures really took me back. Thanks.

A.Moore		17-Apr-2006 21:13
I Grew up in Camp Borden as well, looking at the pics of Worthington Park brings back so many memories. I remember climbing the tanks and squeezing inside of some of them!! haha oh i love Borden.

D Pye		04-Apr-2006 10:45
Great gallery. I grew up in Borden for 5 years in the 70's. Trippy to see that the tank park is still as cool as I remembered it. (ah, the joys of tobagganing down Sandy hill, only to be cutoff by an APC roaring down the tank road).

Guest		06-Oct-2005 13:21
i lived in borden for over 5 years and of all the beses i have been to that i find that c\camp borden be the best=}

Kathryn Hawes		03-Oct-2005 21:57
My daughter just entered into boot camp at Camp Borden. Could someone send me the complete address of the camp so I could write to her? Are there any other sites that I could check out about the base? Thank you. Kathryn Hawes khawes@bmts.com

Guest		28-Jul-2005 23:54
I'm a Malaysian who was a military cadet at the Royal Canadian School of Infantry, Camp Borden in 1965. There were some 30 military cadets being trained at that school. It would be great pleasure if I could view photos of buildings like the Sicily Block, Normandy Block, the Royal Canadian Provost Corp, the Hospital. Generally I would appreciate pictures of Camp Borden now. We will be having our reunion on the 27 Aug 05 and be glad to have these photos for show.

Guest		29-May-2005 05:47
where is cfbtank park? Mike G.

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