Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Citation:
"1. Captain STAUNTON was formerly a civilian member of the Underground Movement in FRANCE and, after ten months imprisonment as a result of the indiscretion of a comrade (that person was George Langelaan an F Section in Nice, who had arrived on a propaganda mission red.), made good his escape and arrived in ENGLAND in September 1942. On his arrival he was interviewed by an officer of M.O.1 (S.P.) and accepted for further training and employment. He was commissioned in January 1943, and returned to FRANCE in April of the same year.

2. Since his return his group has been responsible for the following operations:
a) The sinking of a German 850-900 ton armed minesweeper in the Seine near ROUEN between the moment of its acceptance by the German Admiralty and its putting to sea. All its A.S.D.I.C. equipment and three months' store of food and ammunition were on board.

b) An attack on the main ? Plant of the Compagnie Franciase de Metaux at DELVILLE, an important factory turning out aluminum sheets for the Luftwaffe whereby production was completely stopped for two weeks and reduced 10 10% for three months.

c) An attack on main transformers supplying ROUEN, whereby the transformers were destroyed and 120 tons of oil burnt.

d) The derailing of a German leave train whereby 196 Germans were killed and several hundred injured.

The success of these attacks were directly due to the care with which Captain STAUNTON had built up his organisation and to the excellent personal reconnaisaance of the targets, and the competence with which he handled the men and the material at his disposal.

3. In addition Captain Staunton has submitted an extremely detailed report of enemy preparations for demolitions in the Port of LE HAVRE.

4. Captain STAUNTON returned to ENGLAND in January of this year, but on receipt of news that his group had been the subject of serious penetration by the Gestapo, he immediately volunteered to return in order to investigate and reorganise. He recently left ENGLAND.

In recognition of his marked successes, powers of organisation and leadership, coupled with his personal courage and example, I strongly recommend Captain STAUNTON for the award of the Military Cross."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)