Worthington Park Stuarts

[Colin Alford]

Jason,

I have now found some old notes.

It appears that the memorial was “unveiled” in the fall of 1949.

Please see this Barrie Examiner article from 3 Oct 1949.

https://news.ourontario.ca/Barrie/pa...2908758&po=4&n

It quotes a Borden Citizen article that states the unveiling took place on a Thursday Afternoon, but I don’t know what sort of delay might have been involved between an article being published in the Borden Citizen and then subsequently reprinted in the Barrie Examiner, so the precise date is still in question.

The article also mentions that the event included the annual RCAC Association Dinner, so I can likely consult the RCAC Association minutes to firm up the exact date.

The article also mentions that 6 wreaths were laid during the ceremony. I note that the image in post 3 depicts 6 wreaths. I also note that the post 3 image doesn’t seem like an average December day in Camp Borden. This might indicate that the post 3 image was taken closer to the unveiling date in the fall of ‘49.

It is starting to seem likely that the Stuarts were part of the memorial from the start.

[Jason Ginn]

I totally agree with your findings! The 3rd of October was a Monday in 1949 so it may have taken Place Thursday Sept. 29.

The pic you posted certainly does show the 6 Wreaths and October looks like a better fit than December for sure.

I'm super happy that you could bring this little known bit of history out of the woodwork!

[Colin Alford]

Jason,

It’s my pleasure. This has been a welcome distraction from life’s woes, and provided me the opportunity to actually assemble some of this research into a (somewhat) coherent picture.

As soon as I am able, I will consult the RCAC Association Minutes to see if further info is available to nail down the exact date.

Regards,

Colin

[Colin Alford]

One more update...

I scrolled further down in the notes (originally compiled by my sister in the spring of 2018) and found that the 6 Oct 1949 edition of the Barrie Examiner had two images of the unveiling. See this link: (the device that I am using is not allowing me to save the images) https://news.ourontario.ca/Barrie/pa...2908759&po=7&n

While the image quality is poor, can we detect the tail of an M5A1 behind Gen. Sir Richard McCreery GCB, KBE, DSO, MC?

Also note the base of the saluting Dais. I have reason to believe that this M4A2 (76)HVSS was also made into a monument very early after its arrival in Canada. I’ll elaborate in a future post.

Screenshot_2021-01-27 BaPL002908168pf_0872 pdf.jpg

[Darrell Zinck]

Hi

Not much to add but a pic from the Corps pictorial history 2000 and a couple from find a grave.

Worth noting that started out as the Corps Memorial, later became Worthington Park (vehicles and the Memorial) and later still, Worthy's (and later his Wife, Larry) grave.


https://images.findagrave.com/photos...1407994280.jpg

https://images.findagrave.com/photos...1407993714.jpg

https://images.findagrave.com/photos...1408000679.jpg

Great thread.

regards
Darrell

[Jason Ginn]

It looks like when the Stuarts were refurbished the last time they switched sides when placed back on their pads! The one in the 1949 pic is now on the opposite side of the memorial.

The placement of the tanks in the 2005 image that I posted earlier is consistent with that of the 1949 one.

[Colin Alford]

I have located some additional dates.

The area was formally named "Worthington Park" in Feb 1960.

See this link to the 24 Feb 1960 Edition of the Barrie Examiner:

https://news.ourontario.ca/Barrie/2913139/page/2?n=1