BX January 10, 1917

Returned Home

Captain “Bert” Boddy invalided home through blood poisoning in his arm, arrived back home yesterday. It is probable that he will receive his discharge. Captain Albert Hawley Boddy, who is a son of W.C. Boddy, manager of the Standard Bank, went overseas with the 162nd Battalion. On reaching England two companies, one of which was C. which he commanded, were transferred to the 36th Battalion.

BX June 3, 1933

Honor Conferred on Brantford Lawyers – J.A.D. Slemin and A.H. Boddy Named King’s Counsel in Announcement of Hon. William H. Price, Attorney General and Acting Prime Minister – Tribute Paid to 83 Lawyers Who Served King and Country

Barristers of this city were honored in the announcement last night by Hon. William H. Price, attorney-general of Ontario and acting prime minister, that two Brantford barristers were included in the 155 new King’s Counsel appointed in the province, 83 of them who at various times, in various capacities, served their King and Country during the Great War.  An outstanding feature of the King’s birthday honor list, which covers a two-year period, is the selection of the lawyers who saw service at the front and have been allowed a K.C., though many of them have not practiced the requisite 15 years.  The Ontario Government had chosen to waive the regulatory requirement in their cases, in tribute to their soldier service, and John Austin Dufferin Slemin, and Albert Hawley Boddy, to of Brantford’s best known lawyers, who were in France and England during the Great War were among those granted the distinction of King’s Counsel.

J.A.D. Slemin, who is with the firm of Harley, Slemin and Slemin, is one of those number who have the deserved favor of the government, as he still is a few short months away from a 15 year period of law practice, due to active service in France.  A.H. Boddy of Henderson and Boddy, has completed his necessary term, but he, too, is included in the soldier list.

There are eight barrister members of the legislature who were not King’s Counsel heretofore, included in the general list.  And here again the Government has permitted relaxation of the practicing requirement, and now these younger members of the legal representation in the provincial house attain the same level as the older lawyers there.

Brilliant Records

Many brilliant records, achieved not only in khaki, but in legal work of the post war years, are to be found in the list of honored soldier K.C.’s and not by far the dimmest of them all are the records of Mr. Boddy and Mr. Slemin, who many times have worked well for the community good and have held positions of responsibility in community life.  Mr. Slemin for two years mayor of Brantford and Mr. Boddy has served on the City Council and Board of Education.

Careers Parallel

The careers of the two men parallel each other in many instances.  They came to this city each at the age of 12, although not known to one another at that time, started public school here in the same year, attended the Brantford Collegiate Institute at the same time, and graduated from Toronto University and Osgoode Hall in the same years.  They have held many offices of the same nature, and both have been aldermen.  On many occasions they have worked together for the good of the community, and they have advanced along parallel lines in a professional way with equal rapidity.  Both were very much interested in sport, and players of note in rugby, basketball and baseball.  Mr. Boddy in the former two and Mr. Slemin in rugby and baseball. They have known each other since boyhood and it is fitting that in this year they be named together as King’s Counsel.

J.A.D. Slemin

John Austin Dufferin Slemin was born at Toronto, the son of Charles S. Slemin and the late Mrs. Slemin.  He came to this city with his parents at the age of 12 years.  He received his education in the public schools here and the Brantford Collegiate Institute, graduated from Toronto University in 1913 and from Osgoode Hall in 1916.  Following his graduation he enlisted with the 125th Battalion with the rank of captain.  He left for overseas with the 215th Battalion. On arrival in England was transferred to the 52nd Battalion, C.E.F., with the rank of captain, and he went to France to the Third Division.

He had an active military career, was wounded at the battle of Amiens in 1918 and sent to hospital returning to Brantford in 1919 where he started practice along.  Two years later he was joined by his brother C.C. Slemin the firm taking the name of Slemin and Slemin.  Last April the firm amalgamated with Harley and Sweet and he at present is a member of the firm of Harley, Sweet and Slemin.

His activities in municipal politics were extensive and for two years he was mayor of this city, 1926-1927.  Prior to that time Mr. Slemin was an alderman for two years and at the time of his election in 1925 to an aldermanic chair for Ward 1 he received the largest majority in the field.  He was chairman of the finance committee of the City Council in 1925.

A past president of the Great War Veterans Association and the Canadian Legion, of which he is a charter member, Mr. Slemin has been greatly interested in the work of returned soldiers and his activity in their interest has been extensive.  He is also a past president of the Brantford Conservative Association, and a member of the Rotary Club.

In sports he took an active interest and for a number of years was noted for his ability as a baseball player.  While at Toronto University he was captain of the Victoria College rugby team that won the Sir William Mullock Cup in 1912 and following that he played professional baseball in this city in the old Canadian league and the Michigan-Ontario league. 

A.H. Boddy

Albert Hawley Boddy who has practiced here for the past 15 years was born in Forest, Ontario, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Boddy.  He is 40 years of age.  When he came to this city with his parents, at the age of 12, he entered the public schools and later the Brantford Collegiate Institute, where he graduated in matriculation.  His further education was received at Toronto University.  He graduated there in 1913 with a B.A. and from Osgood Hall in 1916.

In that year, prior to being called to the bar, he accepted the post as company commander with the 162nd Battalion, Parry Sound, with rank of captain.  He went overseas and on his arrival in England was transferred to the 36th Battalion, C.E.F., with the rank of captain.  He was invalided home in 1917, and he began his first practice with W.A. Hollinrake, K.C., having his name incorporated in the firm of Hollinrake and Boddy.  Mr. Hollinrake later left the firm, when appointed surrogate court clerk.  Mr. Boddy continued practice alone for one year, going into partnership with W.T. Henderson K.C. in 1919, and since that time the firm has been known as Henderson and Boddy.

He has been active in municipal politics.  In 1918 he was elected alderman for Ward 3, was a member of the Board of Education for three years, and chairman of the board in 1931.  He is a past president of the Brantford Conservative Association, the Kiwanis Club, and Great War Veterans Association, and the Brantford Club.  He is a member of Kiwanis and the Delta Upsilon fraternity and senior major in the 1st Battalion Dufferin Rifles of Canada, where, it is expected he will shortly be named commanding officer.

While attending university he was very prominent in sports.  Captain of the senior basketball team for two years and a member of the Varsity football team he played both games well, and was active in all other sports.  Following his graduation he played rugby for the Parkdale Canoe Club when they reached the Dominion finals in 1914 to be beaten out by the Hamilton Tigers.

BX May 17, 1976

A.H. Boddy dies at 84

Albert H. Boddy, QC, athlete, soldier, city alderman and senior partner in the law firm of Boddy, Ryerson, Houlding and Clarke, died Saturday in Mease Hospital at Dunedin, Florida.  He was 84.

For more than 60 years, Mr. Boddy’s counsel and legal expertise were felt on the municipal affairs of Brantford, Brant County and the township councils of Brantford, Burford, Onondaga and Oakland.

A former alderman on city council, he also was a member of the former city board of education, from 1929 to 1931, where he rose to become that organization’s chairman.

In 1966, Mr. Boddy’s labors for the legal profession and his community were recognized when he was appointed a life member of the upper Canada Law Society.

Born at Forest, Ontario in 1892, he came to Brantford at the age of 12 and attended Central School and Brantford Collegiate Institute.  Later he attended Highfield School in Hamilton.

He entered Trinity College, University of Toronto, where he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1913.  He graduated from Osgoode Hall in 1916.

While at the university, eh was an outstanding athlete, playing on the university’s senior football and basketball teams.

Is law duties were interrupted by the First World War where he served with the 162nd and 36th Battalions, Canadian Expeditionary Force.  When peace came, he continued as a major, serving as second-in-command of the Dufferin Rifles of Canada.

His first partnership in the legal profession was in 1917 when he became the junior member of Hollenrake (W.A.) and Boddy.

When Mr. Hollenrake left to take up a government appointment, Mr. Boddy joined W.A. Henderson.  Mr. Henderson left to take up his duties as a chief justice of the Supreme Court of Ontario and Mr. Boddy brought R.W. Reville, and later Robert I. Ryerson, into the firm.

When Mr. Reville was appointed judge of Brant Country, George Houlding entered the firm – Boddy, Ryerson and Houlding – and later still, Robert I. Ryerson.

He was appointed a King’s Counsel in 1936.

 He was a life member of the Brantford Shriners Club, the Masonic Order, Ozias Lodge and the Brantford Kiwanis Club of which he was its oldest living past-president at the time of his death.

He was acting Crown attorney during the Second World War while F.E.A. Wallace, Q.C. served overseas.

He served as president o the Brantford Conservative Association, was past president of the former Great War Veterans Association (later Branch 90, Canadian Legion); a life member of the Brantford Club and a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity.

He was dean of the Brant Bar Association and served as president for two terms.

Mr. Boddy is at the Hill and Robinson Ltd., Funeral Home from Tuesday until Wednesday noon.  Services will be at Farringdon Independent Church at 2 p.m.  Interment will be at the Farringdon Burial Ground.