450:
Maleme
Aerodrome on 20th and 21st May he personally led parties of his men from the area held by the forward position and destroyed enemy organised parties who had established themselves out in front of our position, from which they brought heavy rifle, machine-gun and mortar fire to bear on our defensive posts. Numerous snipers in the area were dealt with by Serjeant Hulme personally; 130 dead were counted here. On 22nd, 23rd and 24th May, Serjeant Hulme was continually going out alone or with one or two men and destroying enemy snipers. On 25th May, when Serjeant Hulme had rejoined his battalion, this unit counter-attacked Galatos Village. The attack was partially held up by a large party of the enemy holding the school, from which they were inflicting heavy casualties on our troops. Serjeant Hulme went forward alone, threw grenades into the school and so disorganised the defence, that the counter-attack was able to proceed successfully.
388:. Afterwards, while clearing the town, he threw a grenade into a cellar that he believed was occupied by German soldiers; it transpired that it sheltered several Cretan villagers. The next day, he was advised of the death of his brother, Harold Charles Hulme (18 May 1914 – 26 May 1941), killed while also fighting in Crete with the 19th Battalion. Incensed by this news, he sought retribution against the Germans. As the 23rd Battalion began retreating from Galatas, Hulme stayed behind in a position to snipe at an advancing patrol, killing three soldiers. Later on, as the Allies began withdrawing from their positions in preparation for an evacuation from Crete, the 23rd Battalion formed part of the rearguard. When they reached
458:
very materially assisted the withdrawal of the main body through Stylos. From the enemy mortar position he then worked onto the left flank and killed three snipers who were causing concern to the rearguard. This made his score of enemy snipers 33 stalked and shot. Shortly afterwards
Serjeant Hulme was severely wounded in the shoulder while stalking another sniper. When ordered to the rear, in spite of his wound, he directed traffic under fire and organised stragglers of various units into section groups.
196:
528:. Over the years, the effect of his war wounds became more pronounced with his ability to use his wrists declining and his forearm becoming withered. By 1960, he was on a full disability pension. He was also emotionally affected by the Cretan deaths he had accidentally caused at Galatas. He died at Te Puke on 2 September 1982, and was buried in the civilian section of the Dudley-Vercoe Cemetery in the town. He was survived by his wife and children. His son,
116:
544:
97:
44:
401:, successfully eliminated a party of five snipers while wearing the camouflage smock that he had acquired earlier in the battle. At one stage during this mission, the smock fooled the Germans into thinking he was part of their group. The next day he continued his sniping exploits, killing three more Germans and destroying a
267:, performing a number of actions that saw him recognised with an award of the VC. Wounded during the final days of the battle, he was repatriated to New Zealand. He served on the Home Front for several months before being discharged from the military. In later life, he ran a cartage company. He died in 1982.
457:
On 28th May at Stylos, when an enemy heavy mortar was severely bombing a very important ridge held by the
Battalion rearguard troops, inflicting severe casualties, Serjeant Hulme, on his own initiative, penetrated the enemy lines, killed the mortar crew of four, put the mortar out of action, and thus
392:
after an overnight march, it was discovered that a group of
Germans were advancing to a nearby ridge overlooking the battalion. Hulme was ordered to get his own party of men to the ridge ahead of the enemy. One of the first to the ridge, he used his sniper rifle and threw grenades to keep the Germans
607:
In recent times, Hulme's use of an acquired German parachutists' smock during some of his stalking exploits on Crete has been criticised. Military historians Glyn Harper and Colin
Richardson, in their 2007 book covering New Zealand recipients of the VC, noted that this was against the rules of war.
341:
Arriving in
England in June, the 23rd Battalion, along with the rest of the brigade, formed a mobile reserve tasked with defending England from a possible invasion. It remained there until early 1941, at which time the brigade embarked for Egypt. Hulme's battalion was only in Egypt for a brief time
379:
Hulme reattached himself to the 23rd
Battalion on 22 May and soon found himself leading attacks on German positions and acting as a messenger. While making his way to the headquarters of the 5th Infantry Brigade, he came across a party of New Zealanders who had been made prisoners of war and were
453:
On
Tuesday, 27th May, when our troops were holding a defensive line at Suda Bay during the final retirement, five enemy snipers had worked into position on the hillside overlooking the flank of the Battalion line. Serjeant Hulme volunteered to deal with the situation, and stalked and killed the
449:
Hulme exhibited most outstanding and inspiring qualities of leadership, initiative, skill, endurance, and most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty from the commencement of the heavy fighting in Crete, on 20th May, 1941, until he was wounded in action 28th May, 1941. On ground overlooking
290:. Preferring to be known as Clive, he was educated at Eastern Hutt School. Powerfully built, he was interested in wrestling in his youth. After finishing his schooling, he worked as a farm labourer. In 1934 he married Rona Marjorie née Murcott; the couple later had a son and a daughter.
372:, Hulme armed the soldiers in his charge and led them in efforts to deal with the Germans. Over the next two days, operating largely on his own, he stalked and eliminated several snipers. During this time, he came across a German at the punishment centre, killed him and then took his
346:, the 23rd Battalion did not encounter enemy action until 16 April, when German infantry began to probe its defences at the Olympus Pass. It withdrew the next day, with its rearguard covering the retreat of the entire brigade. Within days, all of the 5th Brigade had been evacuated to
396:
On 28 May, German snipers infiltrated the New
Zealanders' position and opened fire on a conference of senior officers at the headquarters of the 5th Infantry Brigade. Hulme volunteered to deal with them and, with his company commander observing through
476:
The wounds Hulme received on Crete saw him evacuated to New
Zealand for treatment and rehabilitation. On his return to Nelson on 23 October 1941, he was honoured with a civic reception. On 2 February 1942, he was presented with his VC by the
596:, for display for ten years. On 2 December 2007, his VC was one of nine that were among nearly a hundred medals stolen from the museum. On 16 February 2008, New Zealand Police announced all the medals had been recovered as a result of a
405:
and its four-man crew. However, he was wounded in the process, receiving a bullet through his shoulder. Despite his wounds, he stayed with the battalion despite orders to the contrary. He helped organise the retreating
1211:
1257:
608:
This prompted calls for an apology to the families of those killed by Hulme and caused upset to his daughter, who pointed out when "war is on, war is on – and you do what you have to do".
384:
fell to the Germans, Hulme was one of those involved in its recapture on 25 May. A machine gun post in a schoolhouse was holding up his platoon, and Hulme went forward to destroy it with
393:
at bay. His conduct provided a much needed morale boost for his fellow soldiers, already exhausted by their march to Stylos. During this action, he was wounded in the arm.
342:
before it was moved to Greece, along with the rest of the 2nd New Zealand Division, in anticipation of an invasion by German forces. Following the commencement of the
492:
from the 2NZEF, much to his displeasure as he was keen to resume his war service. However, three months later he was recalled to active duty for service with the
1262:
581:
429:. The nomination was supported by several officers, including Hulme's company commander as well as the commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade,
380:
under guard. Unable to use his rifle for fear of hitting one of the prisoners, he instead crept up and bayoneted the sentry. When the town of
1171:
1152:
677:
577:
418:
1247:
589:
319:
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682:
485:, in a ceremony at Nelson. Hulme's VC was one of two to be awarded to New Zealanders for their actions during the Battle of Crete.
601:
478:
303:
248:
565:
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179:
362:, supervising soldiers who were being punished for criminal activity or breaches of discipline. On 20 May 1941, when German
573:
307:
252:
149:
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225:
119:
425:(VC). Instituted in 1856, the VC was the highest gallantry award that could be bestowed on military personnel of the
585:
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323:
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533:
407:
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311:
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until September 1943 at which time he was discharged again from the military, having been promoted to
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381:
244:
233:
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and sniper rifle. This enabled him to deceive German soldiers on his subsequent stalking missions.
299:
928:
557:
263:
and the subsequent Battle of Crete. From 20 to 30 May, he was heavily involved in the fighting on
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318:. On 1 May 1940, he departed New Zealand with the battalion as part of a convoy transporting the
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588:. Hulme's VC remains in the ownership of his family, but in 1999 it was loaned to the
236:, for gallantry "in the face of the enemy". He received the VC for his actions in the
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1052:
630:
433:
398:
330:
prompted the diversion of the convoy to England. While at sea, Hulme was promoted to
1164:
In the Face of the Enemy: The Complete History of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand
410:, directing traffic and collecting stragglers. By 30 May, the 23rd Battalion was at
1182:
482:
43:
251:(2NZEF) shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War and was posted to the
561:
537:
529:
373:
358:
While on Crete, Hulme was attached to the divisional field punishment centre at
209:
102:
1026:
1145:
The Victoria Cross Wars: Battles, Campaigns and Conflicts of all the VC Heroes
285:
672:
513:
430:
359:
17:
1219:
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snipers in turn. He continued similar work successfully through the day.
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436:, and it was duly awarded. The citation for his VC, published in the
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1189:. Auckland, New Zealand: Oxford University Press. pp. 558–561.
279:, New Zealand, was the eldest of four sons to Harold Clive Hulme, a
350:, with the 23rd Battalion arriving on the island on 25 April 1941.
347:
280:
264:
1166:. Auckland, New Zealand: HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand).
224:(24 January 1911 – 2 September 1982) was a soldier in the
1212:
Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45
298:
On the outbreak of the Second World War, Hulme was working in
275:
Alfred Clive Hulme was born on 24 January 1911 in the city of
302:. A few months later, on 22 January 1940, he enlisted in the
629:
The other New Zealand VC recipient for actions on Crete was
1214:. Wellington, New Zealand: Historical Publications Branch.
887:
885:
883:
881:
1258:
New Zealand World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross
414:
from where it, along with Hulme, was evacuated to Egypt.
488:
Hulme was declared medically unfit in February 1942 and
368:(paratroopers) began landing on the island to begin the
753:
751:
749:
520:, running a cartage company and becoming involved with
417:
For Hulme's actions on Crete, his battalion commander,
314:, near Christchurch, and he soon attained the rank of
1187:
The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History
975:"For Valour: Sergeant A. C. Hulme Invested with VC"
205:
190:
155:
145:
135:
125:
108:
90:
73:
53:
34:
1088:"Medals stolen from Waiouru Army Museum recovered"
556:In addition to the VC, Hulme was entitled to the
1073:
872:
48:A studio photograph of Clive Hulme as a sergeant
1033:. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage
444:
326:, to the Middle East. Later in the month, the
1181:O'Shea, Phillip (2000). "Victoria Cross". In
1147:. Barnsley, United Kingdom: Frontline Books.
532:, was active in motorsports, winning several
255:. By the end of 1940, he was the battalion's
8:
937:(Supplement). 10 October 1941. p. 5936.
666:
664:
662:
660:
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656:
654:
652:
650:
1114:"Fury Over Attack on Father's War Service"
915:
42:
31:
1162:Harper, Glyn; Richardson, Colin (2007).
542:
646:
622:
586:Greek Commemorative War Medal 1940–1941
259:. He was with the battalion during the
334:and he was appointed the battalion's
284:
247:, New Zealand, Hulme enlisted in the
7:
1053:"10725, Sergeant Clive Alfred Hulme"
903:
891:
841:
829:
817:
805:
793:
781:
769:
757:
740:
728:
678:Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
304:2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force
249:2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force
25:
949:"Honour to VC: Proud Home-coming"
683:Ministry for Culture and Heritage
421:Leckie, recommended him for the
194:
114:
95:
1263:Military personnel from Dunedin
673:"Hulme, Alfred Clive 1911–1982"
479:Governor-General of New Zealand
232:(VC), the highest award of the
27:Recipient of the Victoria Cross
704:"Both Men Rose From the Ranks"
306:(2NZEF) and was posted to the
1:
1112:Dykes, Paul (10 April 2006).
574:New Zealand War Service Medal
466:, No. 35306, 10 October 1941.
442:dated 10 October 1941, read:
328:invasion of the Low Countries
240:during the Second World War.
1074:Harper & Richardson 2007
873:Harper & Richardson 2007
494:New Zealand Military Forces
472:Repatriation to New Zealand
226:New Zealand Military Forces
120:New Zealand Military Forces
1279:
600:300,000 reward offered by
512:After the war he lived at
1248:New Zealand Army soldiers
1027:"Denny Hulme – Biography"
41:
540:World Champion in 1967.
324:2nd New Zealand Division
283:, and his wife Florence
228:and a recipient of the
1086:NZPA (February 2008).
548:
469:
310:. His unit trained at
578:1953 Coronation Medal
546:
312:Burnham Military Camp
126:Years of service
1204:Ross, Angus (1959).
1143:Best, Brian (2017).
590:National Army Museum
320:5th Infantry Brigade
234:British Commonwealth
1118:Bay of Plenty Times
918:, pp. 558–559.
894:, pp. 474–476.
875:, pp. 217–222.
671:Taylor, Richard J.
570:War Medal 1939–1945
496:. He served on the
1092:New Zealand Herald
1007:. 16 February 1942
934:The London Gazette
604:and Tom Sturgess.
582:1977 Jubilee Medal
549:
419:Lieutenant Colonel
261:invasion of Greece
219:Alfred Clive Hulme
36:Alfred Clive Hulme
1173:978-1-86950-650-6
1154:978-1-47388-736-7
981:. 3 February 1942
955:. 24 October 1941
808:, pp. 36–37.
796:, pp. 22–24.
760:, pp. 94–95.
743:, pp. 11–23.
710:. 16 October 1941
708:Northern Advocate
552:Medals and legacy
536:and becoming the
216:
215:
16:(Redirected from
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1253:Military snipers
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1055:. Birkenhead RSA
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344:Battle of Greece
336:provost sergeant
294:Second World War
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257:provost sergeant
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168:Battle of Greece
163:Second World War
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77:2 September 1982
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502:warrant officer
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370:Battle of Crete
365:Fallschirmjäger
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238:Battle of Crete
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173:Battle of Crete
140:Warrant Officer
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64:24 January 1911
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1076:, p. 223.
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558:1939–1945 Star
553:
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522:water divining
509:
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473:
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464:London Gazette
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439:London Gazette
427:British Empire
423:Victoria Cross
355:
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308:23rd Battalion
295:
292:
288: Matthews
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253:23rd Battalion
230:Victoria Cross
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200:Victoria Cross
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150:23rd Battalion
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87:
81:(aged 71)
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1196:0-19-558376-0
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1183:McGibbon, Ian
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1005:Auckland Star
1002:
1001:"VC Protests"
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906:, p. 89.
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844:, p. 55.
843:
838:
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832:, p. 45.
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826:
823:
820:, p. 40.
819:
814:
811:
807:
802:
799:
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790:
787:
784:, p. 19.
783:
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772:, p. 14.
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631:Charles Upham
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566:Defence Medal
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547:Hulme's grave
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434:James Hargest
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408:Allied forces
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399:field glasses
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86:, New Zealand
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69:, New Zealand
68:
56:
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45:
40:
33:
30:
19:
1207:23 Battalion
1206:
1186:
1163:
1144:
1121:. Retrieved
1117:
1107:
1095:. Retrieved
1091:
1081:
1069:
1057:. Retrieved
1047:
1035:. Retrieved
1030:
1021:
1009:. Retrieved
1004:
995:
983:. Retrieved
979:Evening Post
978:
969:
957:. Retrieved
953:Evening Post
952:
943:
932:
923:
911:
899:
837:
825:
813:
801:
789:
777:
765:
736:
731:, p. 3.
724:
714:23 September
712:. Retrieved
707:
698:
686:. Retrieved
676:
625:
606:
555:
511:
487:
483:Cyril Newall
475:
463:
456:
452:
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437:
416:
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242:
218:
217:
156:Battles/wars
79:(1982-09-02)
29:
18:Alfred Hulme
1243:1982 deaths
1238:1911 births
929:"No. 35306"
916:O'Shea 2000
688:17 February
562:Africa Star
538:Formula One
534:Grands Prix
530:Denny Hulme
210:Denny Hulme
103:New Zealand
1232:Categories
1136:References
1031:NZ History
508:Later life
498:home front
490:discharged
271:Early life
180:Home Front
91:Allegiance
60:1911-01-24
904:Ross 1959
892:Best 2017
842:Ross 1959
830:Ross 1959
818:Ross 1959
806:Ross 1959
794:Ross 1959
782:Ross 1959
770:Ross 1959
758:Ross 1959
741:Ross 1959
729:Ross 1959
641:Citations
617:Footnotes
514:Pongakawa
431:Brigadier
360:Platanias
206:Relations
131:1942–1943
129:1940–1942
1123:22 March
1059:21 March
1037:14 April
1011:11 April
985:11 April
959:11 April
584:and the
461:—
447:Serjeant
386:grenades
332:sergeant
316:corporal
243:Born in
109:Service/
1220:4392594
1185:(ed.).
594:Waiouru
518:Te Puke
516:, near
412:Sphakia
382:Galatas
277:Dunedin
245:Dunedin
84:Te Puke
67:Dunedin
1218:
1193:
1170:
1151:
1097:22 May
580:, the
576:, the
572:, the
568:, the
564:, the
560:, the
403:mortar
390:Stylos
300:Nelson
191:Awards
111:branch
100:
612:Notes
354:Crete
348:Crete
281:clerk
265:Crete
212:(son)
1216:OCLC
1191:ISBN
1168:ISBN
1149:ISBN
1125:2020
1099:2012
1061:2020
1039:2020
1013:2020
987:2020
961:2020
716:2021
690:2015
598:NZ$
524:and
146:Unit
136:Rank
74:Died
54:Born
592:in
286:née
1234::
1210:.
1116:.
1090:.
1029:.
1003:.
977:.
951:.
931:.
880:^
849:^
748:^
706:.
681:.
675:.
649:^
504:.
481:,
338:.
322:,
222:VC
1222:.
1199:.
1176:.
1157:.
1127:.
1101:.
1063:.
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1015:.
989:.
963:.
718:.
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62:)
58:(
20:)
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