This street is named in memory of Captain Richard Wildgoose
Richard Wildgoose was born on 16 September 1916 in Derbyshire, England. His family moved to Canada and established themselves in London, ON where Richard worked as a newspaperman for the London Advertiser. Enlisting soon after the start of the Second World War, Richard Wildgoose joined the 1st Hussars.
Due to the limited number of tanks available in the UK, the 1st Hussars initially trained in Canada at Camp Borden. The Regiment finally sailed for England in October 1941 where they trained on Lee and Ram tanks until re-equipped with Sherman tanks in April 1944, in preparation for the D-Day invasion.
At 07:15 on 6 June 1944, tanks of the 1st Hussars were launched from their landing crafts onto Courseulles-sur-Mer. After clearing this town, the Regiment made its way inland and by 9 June they were supporting the Canadian Scottish in their capture of Putot-en-Bessin.
On 12 June, the 1st Hussars were to lead an attack to capture Le Mesnil-Patry however the attack was advanced to 11 June to conform with a planned attack by a neighbouring formation. As a result, the attack led by B Squadron, 1st Hussars went in with limited artillery support. Soon after starting their advance, the tanks and supporting infantry came under heavy mortar and machine-gun fire followed by enemy armour and anti-tank gun action. The order to withdraw was quickly given but evidently not received by B Squadron who were virtually annihilated, suffering 80 casualties of which 59 were fatal.
It is during this attack that Captain Richard Wildgoose, B Squadron Battle Captain, was killed. With no known grave, he is memorialized on the Bayeux Memorial.
