Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthJuly 9, 1897
Place of BirthKenora, Ontario
CountryCanada
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinMatthew Sleightholm, father Glenavon PO, Saskatchewan
Trade / CallingFarmer
ReligionPresbyterian
Service Details
Regimental Number268765
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion1st Depot Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedConscripted
Address at EnlistmentHuronville, Saskatchewan
Date of EnlistmentMay 21, 1918
Age at Enlistment20
Theatre of ServiceCanada
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathApril 29, 1951
Age at Death54
Buried AtOcean View Burial Park, Burnaby, British Columbia
PlotPark Section-Lot 242-Space 3

Sleightholm, Cecil Talmage

Cecil Talmage (Bud) Sleightholm was born on 9 July 1897 in Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in northwestern Ontario. His parents Matthew Sleightholm and Agnes Victoria Matthew were both widower/widows when they married on 30 April 1893 in Horning’s Mill in the Township of Melancthon, Dufferin, Ontario. At the time of the marriage Matthew was living in nearby Shelburne where he was working as a carpenter. He had previously married Sarah Jane Stone in 1887 in Shelburne, the couple giving birth to son William Ellerby in April of 1891. Sadly William died later that year, with Sarah passing away in July of 1892. Agnes had married Robert McCormick in 1888 in Shelburne, the couple giving birth to two sons, Robert Jr and John. Robert died in 1891 in Shelburne.

At the time of the 1901 census Matthew and Agnes were living in Rat Portage where Matthew was working as a carpenter. Children born in Rat Portage were Cecil, Rachel Edna May (1899), and William (1900). Agnes’ son Robert was also living with the family at the time with further trace of her son John not found. By 1902 the family had relocated to Winnipeg, giving birth to daughter Victoria Agnes that year. Sadly, Victoria died in May of 1904 and is interred in the Elmwood Cemetery in Winnipeg. Leaving Winnipeg, by the time of the 1911 census the family had moved to Saskatchewan to farm near Huronville, about 125 kilometres southeast of Regina.

With the onset of conscription in the latter part of the war, Cecil was called up for service on 20 May 1918 in Regina. Single at the time, his occupation was given as farmer and his father Matthew, care of the Glenavon Post Office, as next of kin. First assigned to the 1st Depot Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment as a Private, he was transferred to the 2nd DD Casualty Company in March of 1919 and was promoted to Provost Sergeant on 2 May. Cecil was discharged from service on demobilization on 2 July 1919 in Regina.

Cecil’s half brother Robert McCormick enlisted with the 164th Battalion in February of 1916 in Shelburne and arrived in England in April of 1917. Transferring to the 116th Battalion in March of 1918, he arrived in France later that month. He was appointed Lance Corporal that October, returning to England in February of 1919 and appointed Acting Corporal. Robert was discharged from service on 28 March 1919 in Toronto.

On 10 July 1918, in Elkhorn, Manitoba, Cecil had married Lillian Barr. Born on 13 February 1902 in Elkhorn, Lillian was the daughter of William Barr and Maggie Hunter. By the 1921 census Cecil and Lillian were living in Francis in Saskatchewan, a small town near his family’s farm. Working as a barber, the couple had given birth to daughter Margery in 1919.

At some point Cecil’s first marriage failed, with Cecil marrying Christine Binzenberger, likely in 1925 in Regina. Born in 1904 in Vibank near the Sleightholm family farm, Christine was the daughter of Hungarian immigrants Joseph and Elizabeth Binzenberger. Cecil and Christina gave birth to two sons, James Elwood Gaylord (1929-1968) and Lyle Joseph William (1931-1994). This marriage also failed, with a 1945’s Voters list placing Cecil in Regina where he was working as a barber.

Cecil later married Thelma Helen Kjelson. Born in 1914 on the family farm near Bengough about 150 kilometres southwest of Regina, Thelma was the daughter of Oscar and Astrid Kjelson. By 1948 Cecil and Thelma were living in Vancouver, British Columbia where Cecil was the proprietor of Bud’s Barber Shop.

Cecil died suddenly of a heart attack on 20 April 1951 in Vancouver. According to his obituary he was survived by his wife Thelma, mother Agnes and sister Edna (William) Eastman, both of Regina, and his brother Robert McCormick in Toronto. He was predeceased by his sister Victoria, his father Matthew (1944, Regina) and brother William (1930, Glenavon). His first wife Lillian married Robert Gordon Miller and died in 1962 in Victoria, British Columbia. His second wife Christina died in 1981 in Regina. Cecil’s mother Agnes died in 1951 in Regina and his brother Robert in 1961 in Toronto. Thelma later married widower Edward Hall, a customs officer, and died in 2008. She is interred in the Lakeview Cemetery in Penticton, British Columbia. Cecil is interred in the Ocean View Burial Park in Burnaby, British Columbia.

By Judy Stockham

Grave marker photograph by Vic G, findagrave.com
Obituary provided by Mike Melen


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