Military History

 

Today we went over to Base Borden again which is a Canadian Forces Combined Base about 15 miles west of Barrie. While this was the birthplace of the Canadian Air Force it also has a strong Army history and Jo-Anne's dad was a part of that.

This was also the home of their armored roots and much tank training was conducted here for both world wars and beyond.

The park below is quite beautiful and a real tribute to those dedicated souls who would get into those iron machines.

Jo-Anne's dad was stationed here several times and as a result she did several school experiences here. Below is the Base Borden Collegiate Institute where she graduated high school ... unfortunately today it is sadly abandoned ... really quite a relatively modern structure which you think could be used for some purpose.

In June of '09 we took some pictures here of the base housing and of the house on Niagara Loop where Jo-Anne lived in the early 60's ... sadly it also is not only abandoned but entirely gone. When we were here four years ago it looked pretty good and worth housing someone but economic reality has made another hit on our history.

A really neat part of the base includes their WWI history of training trench warfare to the new soldiers of the time. Here Bruce is looking for that elusive "enemy" in the next trench.

Actually we have been in the trenches of Verdun and they are terribly sobering and this training one is pretty sterile ... but still a practical training device for those unfortunate ones who would join the hundreds of thousands who would die in these things in France.