John Malfroy Staveley

Born 30 Aug 1914 - Died 14 May 2006

Service number: WWII 11726 AWMM
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: Major/Military AWMM New Zealand Medical Corps, 2 New Zealand General Hospital AWMM
War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Photograph of Sir John Malfroy Staveley, 11726 in uniform. Image kindly provided by Nic Staveley (April 2018). Image may be subject to copyright restrictions.

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Biographical information

Husband of Elvira (died 1992); father of Tessa and John.

Patron, New Zealand Haemophilia Society, Member of New Zealand Alpine Club, Auckland Astronomical Society.

Maj J. M. Staveley, MC; Auckland; born Hokitika, 30 Aug 1914; medical officer, Auckland Hospital; medical officer 6 Fd Amb Mar 1940–Jan 1942; OC 2 Field Transfusion Unit Aug 1943–Apr 1944; Pathologist 2 Gen Hosp Apr–Nov 1944; three times wounded. (Source: McClymont, W.G. To Greece. p.340.)

'At dawn on 1 December an enemy force of forty to fifty tanks supported by infantry advanced north-westwards from Sidi Rezegh. Part of the force turned eastwards to attack the positions of 6 Brigade while the remainder advanced on Belhamed. The attack broke on the south-eastern slopes of Belhamed where the ADS, the guns of 6 Field Regiment, and Division Battle Headquarters were in position. The ADS was soon overrun, and was later escorted to the rear by enemy infantry. The company's casualties in this action were two men killed and a number wounded.
Just when the capture of 4 and 6 Brigades seemed almost a foregone conclusion, British tanks put in an appearance and saved the day. Later, the remnants of both brigades achieved an anxious but successful withdrawal to safety.
Most of the captured ambulance company were made to proceed on a long march across the desert to the west and were later taken in trucks to the prison camp at Benghazi. Captain Staveley, who had been wounded in a leg, four of the company and six stretcher-bearers were taken to the German hospital at El Adem, some 15 miles west of Sidi Rezegh, where they found Sergeant Nicholas in charge of several wounded men. On the night of 2 December the hospital grounds were bombed and machine-gunned by the RAF. Bombs were dropped alongside some buildings, but no direct hits were made on any building used as a ward. The tide of battle was turning again in favour of the British forces and during the night the Germans began a general evacuation. During 3 and 4 December they evacuated the wounded so that only twenty-five British wounded remained, together with a small German medical staff as well as Captain Staveley and five men of A Company 6 Field Ambulance. Then, on 8 December all the remaining Germans left. The entire staff remained with the patients until an infantry patrol from a British battalion reached them on 10 December. Later that day, staff and patients were taken to Tobruk, where Captain Staveley was admitted to hospital, and the five remaining personnel joined the newly formed 5 MDS.
Captain Staveley was awarded the Military Cross for his work and devotion to duty and Sergeant Nicholas the Military Medal.' (Source: Stout, T. Duncan M. New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy. p. 272.) AWMM

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John Malfroy Staveley