 The ship served on the China Station before the Second World War and was transferred to Egypt in early 1940.Ordered to evacuate Alexandria in the face of the German advance after the Battle of Gazala in May 1942, "Medway" sailed for Lebanon at the end of June, escorted by a light cruiser and seven destroyers.Her strong escort could not protect her; on 30 June a German submarine torpedoed and sank her.