This street is named in memory of Sergeant Richard Thomas Pelkey.
Richard Thomas Pelkey was born in New Brunswick on 8 November 1918. He moved to London ON in 1937 and enlisted at the outbreak of the Second World War, joining the 1st Hussars RCAC (6th Canadian Armoured Regiment). He underwent training in Canada with the Regiment before embarking for England in October 1941. Once overseas, the Regiment continued training on various armoured vehicles both in England and Scotland. After this lengthy period of preparations, the 1st Hussars took part in the D-Day landings (6 June 1944) with the task of supporting the infantry landing on the western part of Juno Beach. They continued to support infantry units as the Allied Forces pushed further inland. On 11 June, B Squadron was decimated while supporting the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada attack on the town of Le Mesnil-Patry, suffering 61 killed or missing. Sergeant Richard Thomas Pelkey was one of those reported missing. He, along with 1803 soldiers with no known grave, is remembered on the Bayeux Memorial near the town of Bayeux, Normandy.
