This street is named in memory of Private John William Genereaux.
John William Genereaux was born on 30 June 1922 in London ON. He attended Tecumseh Public School and H.B. Beal Technical High School before joining the 1st Hussars in November 1942. In January 1943, he transferred to the parachute troops and completed his airborne training that same summer at Shilo, MB. Shortly afterwards, he proceeded overseas and spent the remainder of the year training in England. He parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944, with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, which was part of the British 3rd Parachute Brigade in the British 6th Airborne Division. The Division was to land in the Caen Canal- Orne River area (the Orne “bridgehead”) centred around Le Mesnil and secure the left flank of the invasion area. After completing their mission and capturing an enemy battery, bridges and the town of Breville-les-Monts, on 07 August the Division received orders to advance east towards the Seine River. It was during the latter operation that Private John William Genereaux died on 11 August 1944. He is buried at the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery.
