Lieutenant-Colonel Cy Wightman
Canadian Scottish Regiment

As an officer before and during World War II, as a CO, as a Trustee, and as Honorary Colonel, he was a tower of strength to the Regiment over many years. He was a positive influence on all those who shared his company.

(Reg Roy, Ready for the Fray, 502)

Born on 26 November 1905 in Ongar, Essex, England and educated in Victoria, British Columbia, Cyril Marriott Wightman was football player, journalist, and advertising manager for the Daily Colonist. A longtime member of the Canadian Scottish, he reverted to the rank of captain to go overseas with the battalion in August 1941. By the D-Day landings, Wightman served as second-in-command but was put out of action when an enemy shell hit battalion headquarters on 26 June 1944.

Lieutenant-Colonel F.N. Cabeldu had been wounded too but he managed to return to duty two days later. Wightman spent months in hospital before he returned home in November. When the press asked about the circumstances of his wounding, he replied “We’ll skip that.”

He went back to England later in 1945 and took command of the 3rd Canadian Garrison Battalion, which became the 4th Battalion, Canadian Scottish in June 1945. He exchanged places with Lieutenant-Colonel L.S. Henderson who took over the 4th Battalion as part of the army of occupation in Germany, while Wightman assumed command of the 1st Battalion. He led the troops home to British Columbia by the end of the year.

Wightman returned to his journalism career and became general manager of Victoria Press Ltd. He served as honorary colonel of the regiment from 1986 until his death on 7 April 1991.