Captain Thomas Alan Staunton was born 21 July 1915 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the son of Gerald Staunton and Marion Bradford Stewart.

He attended Upper Canada College from 1925-1927 and 1932-1934, and Trinity College School in Port Hope from 1927-1931.  A window in the TCS chapel was dedicated to him in March 2023.

Staunton received his commission in the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada in October 1940 and went overseas in December 1941. He trained with his regiment in England winning a promotion to Captain in January 1944.

He took part in the Normandy D-Day landings and served with his unit until just before the Falaise engagement when he was transferred to Headquarters, 2 Canadian Corps, due to an ear injury from a blast around 23 August 1944.

He later served in the A. & Q. Branch as personal assistant to the Deputy Adjutant & Quartermaster General.

On 29 September 1946, Staunton married Joyce Catherine Hunter at St Peter’s Church, Toronto.

He died on 28 December 2011 in Harrowgate, North Yorkshire.