BX March 8, 1916

Orderly to Kitchener Enlisted

As one of its first recruits for the new 215th Battalion will have a man who for 10 months was orderly to Field Marshal Kitchener during the Sudan War.  The man is question is Constable John Borthwick, who, with two of his fellow policemen, Douglas Barr and Alex Stewart, are enlisting with the 215th Battalion which will start recruiting tomorrow.

Constable John Borthwick has been on the local police force for over eight years.  He is a Scotchman and married.  He has had three years’ service with the Grenadier Guards and two years with the West Lothian Constabulary.

Constable Barr has only been connected with the Brantford Police Force for a little over a year.  He is an Irishman and married.  For three years he was connected with the Territorial’s.

Before coming to Canada P.C. Barr was a well known athlete, playing for several years on the Irish International football team, touring the British Isles with them.

For nearly five years Constable Stewart has been on the local force.  He is also a married man and Scotch.  He has had five years’ service with the Fifeshire Constabulary.

These three policemen were given leave of absence by the police commission yesterday.  They will make 10 men that have gone.  All the first seven were Englishmen, and it will be seen that the present three are Scotch and Irish.  The whole of the ten policemen who have gone to fight for their Motherland are married men.

BX April 9, 1917

Presentation to Four Ex-Constables

In the 215th Battalion, which is slated for overseas, are four ex-policemen.  On Saturday afternoon, in the office of the chief of police, they were pleasantly remembered by the police commission.  In a witty manner Police Magistrate Livingston charged the four men, Sgt.-Major Borthwick and Sergeants Stewart, Barr and Burn, with the offence of having donned the khaki.  The men were found before him with the goods on and this he had them given $10 in gold.  In the case of Sergt.-Major Borthwick he gave him an additional $5 for having stolen the heavyweight boxing championship of this district at the recent bouts in Toronto.  He also expressed the hope that the men would all return and said that their positions would be held for them.  Chief of Police Slemin also spoke and the four soldiers expressed their thanks in a fitting manner.  The older members of the force were present and witnessed the pleasing little ceremony.

BX November 23, 1925

Local Man Selected as Chief for Paris – Former Member of Brantford Force Chosen to Fill that Position

The information that ex-P.C. Borthwick, familiarly known as “Scotty” had received the appointment to the chief of police at Paris was well received in local headquarters this morning.  The local man who will take charge on December 1, started on the Brantford force January 28, 1908 and up until late in 1923 was a continuous member of the local staff with the exception of the period spent in His Majesty’s forces during the Great War.  His long experience should stand the new appointment in good stead.  He earning his sergeant’s stripes while on the local force.

BX February 7, 1957

John Borthwick, Former Paris Police Chief, Dies

John Borthwick, 16 John Street, former Paris and Sault Ste. Marie police chief, died Wednesday in St. Joseph’s Hospital, in his 75th year.

He enlisted here with the 215th Battalion and served overseas during the First World War.

Mr. Borthwick was born in Lilliesleaf, Scotland came to Canada 50 years ago and joined the police force here in 1908.  He rose to the rank of sergeant.

In 1926 he was appointed chief at Paris and in 1930 chief at the Sault.

Later he was on police duty at the Slingsby manufacturing Company here, retiring in 1955.

While in the armed forces he was noted as a boxer.  In 1918 he won the heavyweight boxing championship of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Mr. Borthwick was a member of Colborne Street United Church and Court Brantford, Independent Order of Foresters.

Surviving are his widow, the former Elizabeth Scott; three sons, William and John, both of Brantford, and Arthur, Toronto; one brother James, in Scotland; two sisters, Miss Isabella Borthwick, Lilliesleaf, Scotland, and Mrs. Janet Darling, Edinburgh, Scotland, and six grandchildren.  A brother, Walter, died last September.

Mr. Borthwick is resting at the Hill and Robinson Funeral Home until Saturday for service in the chapel at 2 p.m.  Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

BX February 11, 1957

John Borthwick

The funeral of John Borthwick, was conducted Saturday afternoon at the Hill and Robinson Chapel with the Rev. R.C.S. Crysdale of Colborne Street United Church officiating.  There was a large attendance, including representations from the Slingsby Manufacturing Company Ltd., the 215th Battalion Association, the Air Force Club and the Brantford Artillery Association.  There was a profusion of flowers.  Pallbearers were Tom Borthwick, Walter Borthwick and George Ott, all nephews of Mr. Borthwick, and Jack Dodds, William Gillespie and Norman Green.  Interment was in Mount Hope Cemetery.