Medway, Leslie

Leslie John Cecil Medway (Jack) was born 23 January 1922, the eldest child of Cecil John and Nellie May Medway of New Plymouth. A sister, Patsy and a brother Brian were born in the following four years.

Jack was educated at Central School and New Plymouth Boy's High School (NPBHS) until 1936 and then went to work for Kash Menswear Outfitters in New Plymouth for six years, before he enlisted in the Army. Jack was a keen sportsman and was involved with the Tukapa Rugby Club, the New Plymouth Rowing Club and a member of the Taranaki Territorial Regiment. 

He sailed for the Middle East in July 1943 but not before he was engaged to New Plymouth woman, Nancy Louise Pratt. Once he arrived in Egypt he was quickly was posted to 22nd (Motor) Battalion and sent onto Italy. He was wounded in the fighting at Sangro River in December 1943 but re-joined his unit after his recovery.

Jack was killed in action during the battle for Florence on 30 July 1944. An account of his death was recorded in, 22 Battalion: Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force by Jim Henderson. An unnamed officer from the battalion explained the events that led to him being ordered, against his better judgement, to send three men on a reconnaissance mission to a nearby village of La Romola on the night of 30 July 1944.

“I protested to Major Sainsbury stating that as the answer was obvious since we were even then being heavily shelled, and there was a great deal of machinegun fire coming over from the village and its surrounding area, it was a futile waste of men. I told George that although I had never before refused to obey an order I would do so now.”

However the officer did in the end select two men to accompany Corporal Eddie Edwards on the mission; “To go with him I picked what I thought to be two of the most enterprising and reliable men—‘Fudge’ Valintine and ‘Nuts’ or Jack Medway. These two were friends and were as keen and fine a couple of chaps as I knew. I called them out as soon as I arrived at the platoon, telling the others to get ready for a move at midnight.”

'Fudge Valintine, whose official name was Denzil Alfred Valintine, was another Taranaki serviceman and NPBHS old boy.

The men had orders to reach the village, determine if it was occupied by German troops or not, “establish contact” and return as soon as soon possible. This information would determine where the battalion should attack.

The officer continued; “Having compromised with the authorities and my conscience as best as I could I saw them go, feeling profoundly disturbed. I then went in to give the rest of the platoon the orders for the attack. Just before we moved off at midnight word came to me that Eddie Edwards had crawled in on hands and knees, with his feet badly smashed and his scalp badly wounded, and the information that Fudge and Nuts were dead. I didn't tell the boys as we moved off what had happened.”

The officer also recalled an earlier conversation he had had with Jack, which highlights his strong family connection. “Three days before that [his death], Nuts, in a moment of conversation, had told me how lucky he had always been in having such a wonderful mother and family at home, and how he thought that if a man had to finish up his life this way he reckoned it would be worth it for a family like his. He may have known something — I don't know.”

Jack was buried in the Florence War Cemetery, Italy. Next to him lies his friend, Denzil Valintine. Nearby lie the remains of at least nine other NPBHS old boys.

Books

22 Battalion: Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Jim Henderson, p.316

Lest We Forget, Jack West, p.252