22 Facts About Clive Hulme

Alfred Clive Hulme VC was a soldier in the New Zealand Military Forces and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award of the British Commonwealth, for gallantry "in the face of the enemy".

Clive Hulme received the VC for his actions in the Battle of Crete during the Second World War.

Clive Hulme was with the battalion during the invasion of Greece and the subsequent Battle of Crete.

Clive Hulme served on the Home Front for several months before being discharged from the military.

Alfred Clive Hulme was born on 24 January 1911 in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand, was the eldest of four sons to Harold Clive Hulme, a clerk, and his wife Florence.

Clive Hulme's unit trained at Burnham Military Camp, near Christchurch, and he soon attained the rank of corporal.

Clive Hulme's battalion was only in Egypt for a brief time before it was moved to Greece, along with the rest of the 2nd New Zealand Division, in anticipation of an invasion by German forces.

The next day, he was advised of the death of his brother, Harold Charles Clive Hulme, killed while fighting in Crete with the 19th Battalion.

Clive Hulme was ordered to get his own party of men to the ridge ahead of the enemy.

Clive Hulme volunteered to deal with them and, with his company commander observing through field glasses, successfully eliminated a party of five snipers while wearing the camouflage smock that he had acquired earlier in the battle.

Clive Hulme helped organise the retreating Allied forces, directing traffic and collecting stragglers.

Serjeant Clive 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.

Serjeant Clive Hulme went forward alone, threw grenades into the school and so disorganised the defence, that the counter-attack was able to proceed successfully.

Serjeant Clive Hulme volunteered to deal with the situation, and stalked and killed the snipers in turn.

Shortly afterwards Serjeant Clive Hulme was severely wounded in the shoulder while stalking another sniper.

The wounds Clive Hulme received on Crete saw him evacuated to New Zealand for treatment and rehabilitation.

Clive Hulme's VC was one of two to be awarded to New Zealanders for their actions during the Battle of Crete.

Clive Hulme was declared medically unfit in February 1942 and discharged from the 2NZEF, much to his displeasure as he was keen to resume his war service.

Clive Hulme served on the home front until September 1943 at which time he was discharged again from the military, having been promoted to warrant officer.

Clive Hulme was emotionally affected by the Cretan deaths he had accidentally caused at Galatas.

Clive Hulme died at Te Puke on 2 September 1982, and was buried in the civilian section of the Dudley-Vercoe Cemetery in the town.

Clive Hulme's VC remains in the ownership of his family, but in 1999 it was loaned to the National Army Museum in Waiouru, for display for ten years.