James Chancie “Jay” Sloat was born on September 25, 1924, on his family’s original homestead in the Buffalo Lakes region, northwest of Grande Prairie, Alberta. His parents, Henry James Sloat and Irene Sloat (née: Connors) later moved Jay and his siblings to the Westmark area, where they had purchased two quarters on the banks of the Burnt River. Jay walked 3 miles, cross-country, to Northmark School until 14 years of age. At 14, he left school to help his father on the farm, supporting the family of 12 children. Jay worked on the farm in season and at the sawmill in winter, stacking lumber and working as a labourer. Jay is described as friendly, gentle and quiet; small in stature, big in heart. Jay enjoyed hunting, trapping, skiing, playing cards with his neighbours, teasing his younger siblings and listening to the radio.
Wishing to serve his country in the Second World War, Jay enlisted on November 27, 1943, at No. 13 Depot in Calgary, Alberta, in Regiment No. 8545. From December 8, 1943 to June 24, 1944, Jay attended the following training centers in Canada: #A15 Canadian Artillery Training Centre, Shilo, Manitoba; A22 Camp Borden, Canadian Army Medical Corps, Ontario; A30 Sussex Canadian Infantry, New Brunswick.
On June 24, 1944, Jay embarks for the United Kingdom from the Windsor, Nova Scotia transit camp. He reports to the RCAMC as an orderly at the UK General Hospital from July 4, 1944 to September 5, 1944. At Jay’s request, he is reintegrated into the Canadian Infantry Corps and completes conversion training with the NCM Rangers. On October 20, 1944, he was assigned to the Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit attached to the Canadian Fussiliers.
On November 3, 1944, Jay deployed from the UK as part of the Central Mediterranean Force Task, arriving in Italy on November 18, 1944. On December 27, 1944, Private James Chancie Sloat of the Royal Canadian Regiment is killed in action on the Italian border at the age of 19, making the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
Private James Sloat was buried in Russ 9 – Bognacavallo RCE Cemetery. A new interment took place later at the British Empire Cemetery in Bologna, Italy, to honour Jay in his final resting place.
“At sunset and in the morning, we will remember them.”