Old Boys > Major Robin Medley

Recently, Mr David Medley (Year 3 Teacher and a New Zealander) found a family connection to Homefield albeit 80 odd years ago!
 Mr Medley’s English ancestors on his father’s side came from Methley, Yorkshire and can be traced as far back as 1100. After decades of Mr Medley’s fathers’ genealogical research the Medley family made contact with a number of English ancestors.
One such ancestor is Major Robin Medley, 89 years old, and a Dunkirk and World War II veteran. Major Robin Medley served with the King's African Rifles battalion, and Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire regiment. Major Medley's battalion was involved in a number of harrowing events surrounding the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.   His battalion had to hold the perimeter around Dunkirk for two days from May 29th. On the evening of June 1st, Major Medley and a group of others were taken on board a French trawler and ferried through the night to Ramsgate. He remembers being told before he went to France that he'd be lucky to survive five days - they didn't expect to make it! Major Medley has written two books recounting his experiences; “Five Days To Live” and “Up The Creek”.

So what is the Homefield connection?
 
Major Medley is a Homefield Old Boy who was at the school from 1927 to 1932! Major Robin Medley said he started at Homefield when he was 8 years old and finished when he was 13 years old. When Major Medley found out Mr Medley was teaching at Homefield he rang him to congratulate him on his teaching position at such a fine school.
Major Medley remarked to Mr Medley that his five years at Homefield were very happy days in very difficult times. Major Medley recalls the Physical Education, which often meant boxing lessons. He also said at Homefield he made a number of long time friends, sadly many of whom were lost during the war years. Major Medley also remembers the school fondly and even recollects singing lessons, which required the boys to sing each day with great gusto!
Later in life, after many years in the services, Major Medley also became the Patron to St John's Ambulance in Gwent, and Commander, Order of St John and Dept Lieut. of County of Gwent. Major Medley received an OBE from her Majesty the Queen in January 2007.
The Major summed up his time at Homefield by stating it was a great foundation for the future before him, in turbulent times. He said it helped make him who he later became.
Major Medley has kindly sent us a copy of his book “Five Days to Live” relating his experience of the Second World War, 1939-1940 and his involvement in the Dunkirk evacuation.